Hydroxy-ethylene derivatives for the treatment of arthrosis

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I and in particular medicaments comprising at least one compound of the formula I for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/or pathophysiological conditions in the triggering of which cathepsin D is involved, in particular for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of arthrosis, traumatic cartilage injuries, arthritis, pain, allodynia or hyperalgesia.

The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I and inparticular medicaments comprising at least one compound of the formula Ifor use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/orpathophysiological states in the triggering of which cathepsin D isinvolved, in particular for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis ofarthrosis, traumatic cartilage injuries, arthritis, pain, allodynia orhyperalgesia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Arthrosis is the most widespread joint disease worldwide, andradiological signs of arthrosis are found in the majority of over-65year olds. In spite of this major importance for the health system, thecauses of arthrosis remain unclear to date, and effective preventativemeasures furthermore remain a distant aim. A reduction in the joint gap(caused by destruction of the joint cartilage), together with changes inthe subchondral bone and osteophyte formation, are the radiologicalcharacteristics of the disease. For the patient, however, pain(load-dependent and nocturnal rest pain) with subsequent functionimpairments are to the fore. It is also these which force the patientinto social isolation with corresponding secondary diseases.

The term arthrosis according to an unofficial definition in Germanydenotes “joint wear” which exceeds the usual extent for the age. Thecauses are regarded as being excessive load (for example increased bodyweight), connatal or traumatic causes, such as malpositioning of thejoints or also bone deformations due to bone diseases, such asosteoporosis. Arthrosis can likewise arise as a consequence of anotherdisease, for example joint inflammation (arthritis) (secondaryarthrosis), or accompany overload-induced effusion (secondaryinflammation reaction) (activated arthrosis). The AngloAmericanspecialist literature differentiates between osteoarthritis [OA], inwhich the destruction of the joint surfaces can probably be attributedprincipally to the effects of load, and rheumatoid arthritis [RA], inwhich joint degeneration due to an inflammatory component is to thefore.

In principle, arthrosis is also differentiated according to its cause.Arthrosis alcaptonurica is based on increased deposition of homogeniticacid in joints in the case of previously existing alcaptonuria. In thecase of haemophilic arthrosis, regular intra-articular bleeding occursin the case of haemophilia (haemophilic joint). Arthrosis urica iscaused by the mechanical influence of urate crystals (uric acid) on thehealthy cartilage (W. Pschyrembel et al.: Klinisches Wörterbuch mitklinischen Syndromen and einem Anhang Nomina Anatomica [ClinicalDictionary with Clinical Syndromes and a Nomina Anatomica Annex]. VerlagWalter de Gruyter & Co, 253rd Edition, 1977).

The classical cause of arthrosis is dysplasia of joints. Using theexample of the hip, it becomes clear that the zone with the greatestmechanical stress in the case of a physiological hip position representsa significantly larger area than in the case of a dysplastic hip.However, the stresses caused by the forces acting on the joint aresubstantially independent of the joint shape. They are essentiallydistributed over the main stress zone(s). A greater pressure will thusarise in the case of a relatively small zone than in the case of alarger one. The biomechanical pressure on the joint cartilage is thusgreater in the case of a dysplastic hip than in the case of aphysiological hip position. This rule is generally regarded as the causeof the increased occurrence of arthrotic changes in supporting jointswhich differ from the ideal anatomical shape.

If the consequences of an injury are responsible for premature wear, theterm post-traumatic arthrosis is used. Further causes of secondaryarthrosis that are being discussed are mechanical, inflammatory,metabolic, chemical (quinolones), trophic, hormonal, neurological andgenetic reasons. In most cases, however, the diagnosis given isidiopathic arthrosis, by which the doctor means an apparent absence of acausal disease (H. I. Roach and S. Tilley, Bone and Osteoarthritis F.Bronner and M. C. Farach-Carson (Editors), Verlag Springer, Volume 4,2007).

Medicinal causes of arthrosis can be, for example, antibiotics of thegyrase inhibitor type (fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin,levofloxacin). These medicaments result in complexing of magnesium ionsin poorly vascularised tissues (hyaline joint cartilage, tendon tissue),which has the consequence that irreversible damage occurs to connectivetissue. This damage is generally more pronounced in the growth phase inchildren and juveniles. Tendinopathies and arthropathies are known sideeffects of this class of medicaments. In adults, these antibioticsresult in accelerated physiological degradation of the hyaline jointcartilage according to information from independent pharmacologists andrheumatologists (M. Menschik et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 41,1997, pp. 2562-2565; M. Egerbacher et al., Arch. Toxicol. 73, 2000, pp.557-563; H. Chang et al., Scand. J. Infect. Dis. 28, 1996, pp. 641-643;A. Chaslerie et al., Therapie 47, 1992, p. 80). Extended treatment withphenprocoumone can also favour arthrosis by decreasing bone density inthe case of stresses of the joint internal structure.

Besides age, known risk factors for osteoarthrosis are mechanicaloverload, (micro)traumas, joint destabilisation caused by loss of thesecuring mechanisms, and genetic factors. However, neither theoccurrence nor possible interventions have been fully explained (H. I.Roach and S. Tilley, Bone and Osteoarthritis F. Bronner and M. C.Farach-Carson (Editors), Verlag Springer, Volume 4, 2007).

In a joint affected by arthrosis, the content of nitrogen monoxide isincreased in some cases. A similar situation has been observed due tohigh mechanical irritation of cartilage tissue (P. Das et al., Journalof Orthopaedic Research 15, 1997, pp. 87-93. A. J. Farrell et al. Annalsof the Rheumatic Diseases 51, 1992, pp. 1219-1222; B. Fermor et al.,Journal of Orthopaedic Research 19, 2001, pp. 729-737), whereas moderatemechanical stimulation tends to have a positive effect. The action ofmechanical forces is thus causally involved in the progress ofosteoarthrosis (X. Liu et al., Biorheology 43, 2006, pp. 183-190).

In principle, arthrosis therapy follows two aims: firstly freedom frompain under normal load and secondly the prevention of mechanicalrestrictions or changes in a joint. These aims cannot be achieved in thelong term by pain treatment as a purely symptomatic therapy approach,since this cannot halt the progress of the disease. If the latter is tobe achieved, the cartilage destruction must be stopped. Since the jointcartilage in adult patients cannot regenerate, the elimination ofpathogenetic factors, such as joint dysplasia or malpositions, whichresult in increased point pressure on the joint cartilage, is inaddition enormously important.

Finally, it is attempted to prevent or stop the degeneration processesin the cartilage tissue with the aid of medicaments.

An essential factor for the functioning state of the joint cartilage andthus the resistance thereof to stress is the extracellular matrix, whichprimarily consists of collagens, proteoglycans and water. The enzymesinvolved in degradation of the extracellular matrix include, inparticular, the metalloproteases, aggrecanases and cathepsin enzymes.However, further enzymes can in principle also degrade cartilage matrix,for example plasmin, kallikrein, neutrophil elastase, tryptase andchymase.

Cathepsins belong to the papain superfamily of lysosomal proteases.Cathepsins are involved in normal proteolysis and the conversion oftarget proteins and tissues and in the initiation of proteolyticcascades and proenzyme activations. In addition, they are involved inMHC class II expression (Baldwin (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 90:6796-6800; Mixuochi (1994) Immunol. Lett., 43: 189-193). However,abnormal cathepsin expression can result in severe diseases. Thus,increased cathepsin expression has been detected in cancer cells, forexample in breast, lung, prostate, glioblastoma and head and neckcancer, and it has been shown that cathepsins are associated withinadequate therapy success in breast, lung, head and neck cancer, and inbrain tumours (Kos et al. (1998) Oncol. Rep., 5: 1349-1361; Yan et al.(1998) Biol. Chem., 379: 113-123; Mort et al.; (1997) Int. J. Biochem.Cell Biol., 29: 715-720; Friedrick et al. (1999) Eur. J Cancer, 35:138-144). In addition, abnormal cathepsin expression is apparentlyinvolved in the development of inflammatory and non-inflammatorydiseases, such as, for example, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis(Keyszer (1995) Arthritis Rheum., 38: 976-984).

The molecular mechanism of cathepsin activity has not been fullyexplained. On the one hand, it has been found that, for example, inducedcathepsin expression protects B cells from which serum is taken againstapoptosis, and that treatment of the cells with antisenseoligonucleotides of cathepsin B induces apoptosis (Shibata et al. (1998)Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 251: 199-20; Isahara et at. (1999)Neuroscience, 91: 233-249). These reports suggest an anti-apoptotic roleof cathepsins. However, they are in complete contrast to earlierreports, which describe cathepsins as apoptosis mediators (Roberts et al(1997) Gastroenterology, 113: 1714-1726; Jones et al. (1998) Am. J.Physiol., 275: G723-730).

Cathepsins are synthesised as inactive zymogens on ribosomes andtransferred into the lysosomal system. After proteolytic cleaving-off ofthe N-terminal propeptide, the cathepsin concentration in the acidicenvironment of the lysosomes increases to 1 mM, and the cathepsins arereleased into the extracellular medium by the lysosomes.

In the case of cathepsins, a differentiation is made between thecysteine cathepsins B, C, H, F, K, L, O, S, V and W, the aspartylcathepsins D and E, and the serine cathepsin G.

Examples of cathepsin inhibitors in clinical development are cathepsin Kinhibitors for the treatment of arthrosis and cathepsin S inhibitors forthe treatment of arthritis, neuropathic pain and psoriasis.

Besides cathepsin D, the aspartyl proteases also include the HIVaspartyl protease (HIV-1 protease), renin, pepsin A and C, BACE (Asp2,memapsin), plasmepsins and the aspartyl haemoglobinases (Takahashi, T.et al., Ed. Aspartic Proteinases Structure, Function, Biology andBiomedical Implications (Plenum Press, New York, 1995), Adams, J. etal., Ann. Rep. Med. Chem. 31, 279-288, 1996; Edmunds J. et al., Ann.Rep. Med. Chem. 31, 51-60, 1996; Miller, D. K. et al., Ann. Rep. Med.Chem 31, 249-268, 1996). Cathepsin D is normally involved in thedegradation of intracellular or phagocytised proteins and thus plays animportant role in protein metabolism (Helseth, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA 81, 3302-3306, 1984), in protein catabolism (Kay, et al.,Intracellular Protein Catabolism (eds. Katunuma, et al., 155-162, 1989)and in antigen processing (Guagliardi, et al., Nature, 343, 133-139,1990; Van Noort, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 264, 14159-14164, 1989).

Increased cathepsin D levels are associated with a number of diseases.Thus, increased cathepsin D levels correlate with a poor prognosis inbreast cancer and with increased cell invasion and an increased risk ofmetastases, and shorter relapse-free survival time after therapy and alower survival rate overall (Westley B. R. et al., Eur. J. Cancer 32,15-24, 1996; Rochefort, H., Semin. Cancer Biol. 1:153, 1990; Tandon, A.K. et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 322, 297, 1990). The cathepsin D secretionrate in breast cancer is promoted by overexpression of the gene and bymodified processing of the protein. Increased levels of cathepsin D andother proteases, such as, for example, collagenase, produced in theimmediate vicinity of a growing tumour, could degrade the extracellularmatrix in the environment of the tumour and thus promote the detachmentof tumour cells and invasion into new tissue via the lymph andcirculation system (Liotta L. A., Scientific American February: 54,1992; Liotta L. A. and Stetler-Stevenson W. G., Cancer Biol. 1:99, 1990;Liaudet E., Cell Growth Differ. 6:1045-1052, 1995; Ross J. S., Am. J.Clin. Pathol. 104:36-41, 1995; Dickinson A. J., J. Urol. 154:237-241,1995).

Cathepsin D is in addition associated with degenerative changes in thebrain, such as, for example, Alzheimer's disease. Thus, catepsin D isassociated with cleavage of the amyloid-β precursor protein or of amutant precursor which increases the expression of the amyloid proteinin transfected cells (Cataldo, A. M. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 87:3861, 1990; Ladror, U. S. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 18422, 1994, EvinG., Biochemistry 34: 14185-14192, 1995). The amyloid-β protein, which isformed by proteolysis of the amyloid-β precursor protein, results in theformation of plaques in the brain and appears to be responsible for thedevelopment of Alzheimer's disease. Increased cathepsin D levels havealso been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients, anda high proteolytic activity of cathepsin D compared with the mutantamyloid-β precursor protein has been found (Schwager, A. L., et al. J.Neurochem. 64:443, 1995). In addition, a significant increase incathepsin D activity is measured in biopsies from Huntington's diseasepatients (Mantle D., J. Neurol. Sci. 131: 65-70, 1995).

Cathepsin D is thought to play an essential role at various levels inthe development of arthrosis. Thus, increased mRNA levels of cathepsin Dare measured in the joint cartilage of the hip joint head in dogs withspontaneous arthrosis compared with healthy dogs (Clements D. N. et al.,Arthritis Res. Ther. 2006; 8(6): R158; Ritchlin C. et al., Scand. J.Immunnol. 40: 292-298, 1994). Devauchelle V. et al. (Genes Immun. 2004,5(8): 597-608) also show different expression rates of cathepsin D inhuman patients in the case of arthrosis compared with rheumatoidarthritis (see also Keyszer G. M., Arthritis Rheum. 38: 976-984, 1995).Cathepsin D also appears to play a role in mucolipidosis (Kopitz J.,Biochem. J. 295, 2: 577-580, 1993).

The lysosomal endopeptidase cathepsin D is the most widespreadproteinase in the chondrocytes (Ruiz-Romero C. et al., Proteomics. 2005,5(12): 3048-59). In addition, the proteolytic activity of cathepsin Dhas been detected in the cultivated synovium from osteoarthrosispatients (Bo G. P. et al., Clin. Rheumatol. 2009, 28(2): 191-9), andincreased proteolytic activity is also found in synovectomy tissue ofpatients with rheumatoid arthritis (Taubert H. et al., Autoimmunity.2002, 35(3): 221-4). Lorenz et al. (Proteomics. 2003, 3(6): 991-1002)thus also write that, although the lysosomal and secreted aspartylprotease cathepsin D has not yet been studied in detail with respect toarthritis and arthrosis, in contrast to cathepsins B and L, Lorenz etal. found, however, higher protein levels of cathepsin D in the synovialtissue of patients with arthrosis compared with patients with rheumatoidarthritis.

Gedikoglu et al. (Ann. Rheum. Dis. 1986, 45(4): 289-92) have likewisedetected an increased proteolytic activity of cathepsin D in synovialtissue and Byliss and Ali (Biochem. J. 1978, 171(1): 149-54) in thecartilage of patients with arthrosis.

In the case of arthrosis, a reduction in the pH occurs in regions of thecartilage. This reduction in the pH is of crucial importance for theunderstanding of catabolic processes in the cartilage.

In the case of arthrosis, a direct correlation is thus also foundbetween a low pH in the joint tissue and the severity and progress ofthe disease. At a pH of 5.5, autodigestion of the cartilage occurs. Thiscan be inhibited virtually completely by pepstatin or ritonavir inexplant cultures (for example from mouse, cow or human). This suggestsan essential role, or even a key role, of cathepsin D in arthrosis,since pepstatin inhibits aspartyl proteases with one exception—BACE1—and only these two aspartyl proteases have hitherto been identified inthe cartilage tissue. Thus, Bo G. P. et al. (Clin. Rheumatol. 2009,28(2): 191-9) also describe the important role of cathepsin D inpathological changes in joints.

The best-known aspartyl protease inhibitor is pepstatin, a peptide whichwas originally isolated from a Streptomyces culture. Pepstatin iseffective against pepsin, cathepsin and renin. Many aspartyl proteaseinhibitors have therefore been modelled on the example of the structureof pepstatin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,648; Umezawa, H, et al., J Antibiot(Tokyo) 23: 259-62, 1970; Morishima, H., et al., J. Antibiot. (Tokyo)23: 263-5, 1970; Lin, Ty and Williams, H R., J. Biol. Chem. 254:11875-83, 1979; Jupp, R A, et al., Biochem. J. 265: 871-8, 1990;Agarwal, N S and Rich, D H, J. Med. Chem. 29:2519-24, 1986; Baldwin, ET, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 90: 6796-800, 1993; Francis, S Eet al., EMBO J 13: 306-17, 1994).

Aspartyl proteases and cathepsin D are frequently described as targetproteins for active compounds for the treatment of neurodegenerativediseases, cognitive disorders, dementia, Alzheimer's, cancer, malaria,HIV infection and diseases of the cardiovascular system, and inhibitorsof aspartyl proteases or cathepsin D are disclosed for the treatment ofthese diseases, such as, for example, in WO 2009013293, EP 1987834, EP1872780, EP 1867329, EP 1745778, EP 1745777, EP 1745776, WO 1999002153,WO 1999055687, U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,416, WO 2003106405, WO 2005087751, WO2005087215, WO 2005016876, US 2006281729, WO 2008119772, WO 2006074950,WO 2007077004, WO 2005049585, U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,928 and U.S. Pat. No.6,150,416.

Hydroxyethylene derivatives or similar compounds are disclosed in WO2001070672, US 20030013881 and in Hom, R. K. et al. (J. Med. Chem.,47(1), 158-164, 2004) as beta-secretase inhibitors (BACE inhibitors) forthe treatment of Alzheimer's, cognitive disorders, senility anddementia.

Although the known cathepsin D inhibitors and the two model compoundspepstatin and ritonavir effectively inhibit cathepsin D activity, theyhave, however, quite low selectivity for other aspartyl proteases. Therole of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the regulation of bloodpressure and the fluid and electrolyte balance (Oparil, S. et al., N.Engl. J. Med. 1974; 291: 381-401/446-57) and the efficacy of renin andpepsin inhibitors in diseases of the cardiovascular system is adequatelyknown, and thus numerous side effects can be expected, in particular onoral or systemic administration of these low-selectivity cathepsin Dinhibitors, and systemic complications can also be expected on localapplication due to diffusion of the compounds. In addition, the peptidiccompounds in particular have low stability and are therefore notsuitable for oral or systemic administration.

The invention was based on the object of finding novel compounds havingvaluable properties, in particular those which can be used for thepreparation of medicaments.

The object of the present invention was, in particular, to find novelactive compounds and particularly preferably novel cathepsin Dinhibitors which can be employed for the prevention and treatment ofarthrosis and have, in particular, high selectivity for cathepsin Dcompared with renin and pepsin. In addition, the aim was to find novelcathepsin D inhibitors which are sufficiently stable, at least on localor intra-articular administration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Surprisingly, it has been found that the hydroxyethylene derivativesaccording to the invention are highly effective inhibitors of cathepsinD and at the same time have high selectivity for cathepsin D comparedwith renin and pepsin, and thus few side effects can be expected on usethereof for the treatment of arthrosis. In addition, the compoundsaccording to the invention have adequately good stability in synovialfluid, meaning that they are suitable for intra-articular administrationand thus for the treatment of arthrosis. It has likewise surprisinglybeen found that the hydroxyethylene derivatives according to theinvention are able to reduce inflammation-induced thermal hyperalgesiadepending on the dose.

The invention relates to hydroxyethylene derivatives of the generalformula I,

in which

-   I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵ each, independently of one another, denote N or    CR′,-   R¹ denotes ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, butyl, isobutyl,    sec-butyl, cyclobutyl, tert-butyl, phenyl, benzyl, 2-oxetanyl,    3-oxetanyl, tetrahydrofuran-3-yl, tetrahydrofuran-2-yl, cyclopentyl,    pentyl, methylsulfanylmethyl, ethylsulfanylmethyl,    2-methylsulfanylethyl or 1-methylsulfanylethyl,-   A¹ denotes 0 to 3 identical or different amino acid radicals    (—NHCHRCO—) connected to one another in a peptide-like manner or    —CO—, —OCO—, —NRCO—, —SO₂— or —NRSO₂—,-   A² denotes 0 to 3 identical or different amino acid radicals    (—NHCHRCO—) connected to one another in a peptide-like manner,-   L¹ denotes a single bond or a linear or branched alkyl linker having    1-10 C atoms, in which 1-5 CH₂ groups may be replaced, independently    of one another, by O, S, —CXX′—, SO, SO₂, NR, C═O, —OCO—, —NRCONR′—,    —NRCO—, —NRSO₂R′—, —COO—, —CONR—, —C≡C— groups and/or by —CH═CH—    groups and/or, in addition, 1-20 H atoms may be replaced by F and/or    Cl,-   L² denotes a single bond, —CYY′—, —NR—, —NRCR′R— or —NRCRR′CRR′—-   X, X′, Y, Y′ each, independently of one another, denote H, T, a    linear or branched alkyl having 1-10 C atoms, in which one, two or    three CH₂ groups may be replaced, independently of one another, by    O, S, SO, SO₂, NR, —OCO—, —NRCONR′—, —NRCO—, —NRSO₂R′—, —COO—,    —CONR—, —C≡C— groups and/or by —CH═CH— groups and/or, in addition,    1-20 H atoms may be replaced by F and/or Cl, and which is    unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by ═S, ═NR, ═O, R, T,    OR, NRR′, SOR, SO₂R, SO₂NRR′, CN, COOR, CONRR′, NRCOR′, NRCONR′R″,    NRSO₂R′ and/or NRCOR′, or a linear or branched cyclic alkyl having    3-7 C atoms, in which one, two or three CH₂ groups may be replaced,    independently of one another, by 0, S, SO, SO₂, NR, —OCO—,    —NRCONR′—, —NRCO—, —NRSO₂R′—, —COO—, —CONR—, —C≡C— groups and/or by    —CH═CH— groups and/or, in addition, 1-11 H atoms may be replaced by    F and/or Cl, and which is unsubstituted or mono-, di- or    trisubstituted by ═S, ═NR, ═O, R, T, OR, NRR′, SOR, SO₂R, SO₂NRR′,    CN, COOR, CONRR′, NRCOR′, NRCONR′R″, NRSO₂R′ and/or NRCOR′,-   R, R′, independently of one another, denote H, T, OT or a linear or    branched alkyl having 1-10 C atoms, in which one, two or three CH₂    groups may be replaced, independently of one another, by O, S, SO,    SO₂, NH, NCH₃, —OCO—, —NHCONH—, —NHCO—, —NRSO₂R′—, —COO—, —CONH—,    —NCH₃CO—, —CONCH₃—, —C≡C— groups and/or by —CH═CH— groups and/or, in    addition, 1-20 H atoms may be replaced by F and/or Cl, and which is    unsubstituted, mono-, di- or trisubstituted by ═S, ═NR, ═O, Hal, OH,    NH₂, SO₂CH₃, SO₂NH₂, CN, CONH₂, NHCOCH₃, and/or NHCONH₂, or a cyclic    alkyl having 3-7 C atoms, in which one, two or three CH₂ groups may    be replaced, independently of one another, by O, S, SO, SO₂, NH,    NCH₃, —OCO—, —NHCONH—, —NHCO—, —NRSO₂R′—, —COO—, —CONH—, —NCH₃CO—,    —CONCH₃— and/or by —CH═CH— groups and/or, in addition, 1-11 H atoms    may be replaced by F and/or Cl, and which is unsubstituted or mono-,    di- or trisubstituted by ═S, ═NR, ═O, OH, NH₂, SO₂CH₃, SO₂NH₂, CN,    CONH₂, NHCOCH₃, and/or NHCONH₂,-   T denotes a phenyl or naphthyl, which is unsubstituted or mono-, di-    tri- or tetrasubstituted by R, or a mono- or bicyclic saturated,    unsaturated or aromatic heterocycle having 1 to 4 N, O and/or S    atoms, which may be mono-, di- or trisubstituted by R, ═S, ═NR′    and/or ═O,-   m denotes 0-4,-   n denotes 0-2 and-   Hal denotes F, Cl, Br or I,    and physiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates,    prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in    all ratios.

The invention preferably relates to all above-mentioned compounds of theformula I in which

R¹ denotes isopropyl, 2-butyl or isobutyl

and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, A¹, A², L¹, L², X, X′, Y, Y′, T, R, R′, m, n andHal have the meanings indicated above, and physiologically acceptablesalts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof,including mixtures thereof in all ratios.

The invention particularly preferably relates to all above-mentionedcompounds of the formula I in which

R¹ denotes isopropyl

and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, A¹, A², L¹, L², X, X′, Y, Y′, T, R, R′, m, n andHal have the meanings indicated above, and physiologically acceptablesalts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof,including mixtures thereof in all ratios.

The invention particularly preferably relates to all above-mentionedcompounds of the formula I in which

R′ denotes isopropyl, having an S configuration of the chiral centre towhich the isopropyl group is bonded,

and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, A¹, A², L¹, L², X, X′, Y, Y′, T, R, R′, m, n andHal have the meanings indicated above, and physiologically acceptablesalts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof,including mixtures thereof in all ratios.

The invention particularly preferably relates to all above-mentionedcompounds of the formula I in which

-   A¹ denotes 0 to 1 amino acid radicals, selected from alanine,    glycine, cyclopropylglycine, cyclobutylglycine, cyclopentylglycine,    cyclohexylglycine, 3-oxetanylglycine, 3-oxetanylglycine,    tetrahydrofuran-3-ylglycine, tetrahydrofuran-2-ylglycine,    ethylsulfanylmethylglycine, 2-methylsulfanylethylglycine,    1-methylsulfanylethylglycine, valine, norvaline, aminobutyric acid,    leucine, isoleucine, proline, tert-leucine, norleucine, methionine,    phenylalanine, naphthylalanine, O-methylserine and O-ethylserine,    which are connected to one another in a peptide-like manner, or    —OCO—, —NRCO—, —SO₂—, or —NRSO₂—,-   A² denotes 0 to 2 identical or different amino acid radicals,    selected, independently of one another, from alanine, glycine,    cyclopropylglycine, cyclobutylglycine, cyclopentylglycine,    cyclohexylglycine, 3-oxetanylglycine, 3-oxetanylglycine,    tetrahydrofuran-3-ylglycine, tetrahydrofuran-2-ylglycine,    ethylsulfanylmethylglycine, 2-methylsulfanylethylglycine,    1-methylsulfanylethylglycine, valine, norvaline, aminobutyric acid,    leucine, isoleucine, proline, tert-leucine, norleucine, methionine,    phenylalanine, naphthylalanine, O-methylserine and O-ethylserine,    which are connected to one another in a peptide-like manner,    and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, R¹, L¹, L², X, X′, Y, Y′, T, R, R′, m, n and    Hal have the meanings indicated above, and physiologically    acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs and stereoisomers    thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios.

The invention very particularly preferably relates to allabove-mentioned compounds of the formula I in which

-   A² denotes 0 to 2 identical or different amino acid radicals,    selected, independently of one another, from valine, norvaline,    leucine, isoleucine, norleucine, phenylalanine and naphthylalanine,    which are connected to one another in a peptide-like manner,    and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, R¹, A¹, L¹, L², X, X′, Y, Y′, T, R, R′, m, n    and Hal have the meanings indicated above, and physiologically    acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs and stereoisomers    thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios.

The invention very particularly preferably relates to allabove-mentioned compounds of the formula I in which

-   A¹ 0 to 1 amino acid radicals, selected from valine, norvaline,    leucine, isoleucine, norleucine, phenylalanine and naphthylalanine,    which are connected to one another in a peptide-like manner,    and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, R¹, A², L¹, L², X, X′, Y, Y′, T, R, R′, m, n    and Hal have the meanings indicated above, and physiologically    acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs and stereoisomers    thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios.

The invention furthermore very particularly preferably relates to allabove-mentioned compounds of the formula I in which above-mentionedcompounds of the formula I in which

-   A¹ 0 to 1 amino acid radicals, selected from valine, norvaline,    leucine, isoleucine, norleucine, phenylalanine and naphthylalanine,    which are connected to one another in a peptide-like manner,-   A² denotes 0 to 2 identical or different amino acid radicals,    selected, independently of one another, from valine, norvaline,    leucine, isoleucine, norleucine, phenylalanine and naphthylalanine,    which are connected to one another in a peptide-like manner,    and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, R¹, L¹, L², X, X′, Y, Y′, T, R, R′, m, n and    Hal have the meanings indicated above, and physiologically    acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs and stereoisomers    thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios.

The invention furthermore very particularly preferably relates to allabove-mentioned compounds of the formula I in which the amino acidradicals selected for A¹ and A² are each in the S configuration

and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, R¹, L¹, L², X, X′, Y, Y′, T, R, R′, m, n and Halhave the meanings indicated above, and physiologically acceptable salts,derivatives, solvates, prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof, includingmixtures thereof in all ratios.

All above-mentioned preferred, particularly preferred and veryparticularly preferred meanings of the above radicals of the compoundsof the formula I should be understood in such a way that these preferredparticularly preferred and very particularly preferred meanings orembodiments can be combined with one another in any possible combinationto give compounds of the formula I and preferred, particularly preferredand very particularly preferred compounds of the formula I of this typeare likewise explicitly disclosed hereby.

Very particular preference is also given to the following compounds ofthe formula I selected from the group consisting of:

-   a)    {(S)-1-[(S)-1-((1S,2S)-4-{(1S,2S)-1-[(4-Amino-2-methylpyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)carbamoyl]-2-methylbutylcarbamoyl}-1-benzyl-2-hydroxybutyl-carbamoyl)-2-methylpropylcarbamoyl]-3-methylbutyl}carbamic    acid tert-butyl ester-   b)    (S)-2-((2S,3S)-2-{(4S,5S)-5-[(S)-2-((S)-2-tert-Butoxycarbonylamino-4-methylpentanoylamino)-3-methylbutyrylamino]-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoylamino}-3-methylpentanoylamino)-3-methylbutyric    acid methyl ester-   c)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-acetylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   d)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-acetylamino]-3-methylbutyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   e)    (4S,5S)-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   f)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   g)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   h)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   i)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(2-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   j)    (4S,5S)-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3,4-Dimethylphenoxy)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   k)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-[(S)-3-methyl-2-(2-naphthalen-2-ylacetylamino)-butyrylamino]-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   l)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-[(S)-3-methyl-2-(2-naphthalen-1-ylacetylamino)-butyrylamino]-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   m)    (4S,5S)-5-((S)-2-Diphenylacetylamino-3-methylbutyrylamino)-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   n)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic    acid (2,6-dimethylphenyl)amide-   o)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic    acid benzylamide-   p)    (S)—N-[(1S,2S)-1-Benzyl-5-(2,3-dihydroindol-1-yl)-2-hydroxy-5-oxopentyl]-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyramide-   q)    (S)-2-[(S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[(S)-4-methyl-2-(3-methylbutyrylamino)pentanoylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoylamino)-3-phenylpropionylamino]-3-methylbutyric    acid methyl ester-   r)    (S)-2-[(S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[(S)-4-methyl-2-(3-methylbutyrylamino)pentanoylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoylamino)-3-phenylpropionylamino]-3-methylbutyric    acid methyl ester-   s)    (4S,5S)-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3-Ethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methylbutyrylamino}-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   t)    (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-[(S)-3-methyl-2-(4-phenylbutyrylamino)butyrylamino]-6-phenylhexanoic    acid phenethylamide-   u)    (S)-2-[(2S,3S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[(S)-4-methyl-2-(3-methylbutyrylamino)pentanoylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoylamino)-3-methylpentanoylamino]-3-methylbutyric    acid-   v)    (S)-2-[(2S,3S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoro-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoylamino)-3-methylpentanoylamino]-3-methylbutyric    acid    and physiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates,    prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in    all ratios.

Amino acid radicals here are taken to mean compounds of the followingtype:

The amino acid radicals mentioned above and below stand, in particular,for the radicals of the following amino acids:

-   -   Natural amino acids—alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic        acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine,        isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, ornithine,        phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine,        valine    -   Non-natural amino acids, such as, for example,        cyclopropylglycine, cyclobutylglycine, cyclopentylglycine,        cyclohexylglycine, 3-oxetanylglycine, 3-oxetanylglycine,        tetrahydrofuran-3-ylglycine, tetrahydrofuran-2-ylglycine,        ethylsulfanylmethylglycine, 2-methylsulfanylethylglycine,        1-methylsulfanylethylglycine, norvaline, aminobutyric acid,        tert-leucine, norleucine, naphthylalanine, O-methylserine,        O-ethylserine and the like.

If the above-mentioned amino acids can occur in a plurality ofenantiomeric forms, all these forms and also mixtures thereof (forexample DL forms) are included above and below.

Hal denotes fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, in particularfluorine or chlorine.

—(C═O)— or ═O denotes carbonyl oxygen and stands for

or oxygen atom bonded to a carbon atom by means of a double bond.

Alkyl or A is a saturated, unbranched (linear) or branched hydrocarbonchain and has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 C atoms. Alkyl preferablydenotes methyl, furthermore ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl,sec-butyl or tert-butyl, furthermore also pentyl, 1-, 2- or3-methylbutyl, 1,1-, 1,2- or 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl,1-, 2-, 3- or 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-, 1,2-, 1,3-, 2,2-, 2,3- or3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1- or 2-ethylbutyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl,1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, 1,1,2- or 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, linear orbranched heptyl, octyl, nonyl or decyl, further preferably, for example,tri-fluoromethyl.

Cyclic alkyl or cycloalkyl is a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon chain andhas 3-10, preferably 3-7 C atoms and preferably denotes cyclopropyl,cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or cycloheptyl. Cycloalkyl alsodenotes a partially unsaturated cyclic akyl, such as, for example,cyclohexenyl or cyclohexynyl.

Mono- or bicyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclepreferably denotes unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted 2- or3-furyl, 2- or 3-thienyl, 1-, 2- or 3-pyrrolyl, 1-, 2, 4- or5-imidazolyl, 1-, 3-, 4- or 5-pyrazolyl, 2-, 4- or 5-oxazolyl, 3-, 4- or5-isoxazolyl, 2-, 4- or 5-thiazolyl, 3-, 4- or 5-isothiazolyl, 2-, 3- or4-pyridyl, 2-, 4-, 5- or 6-pyrimidinyl, furthermore preferably1,2,3-triazol-1-, -4- or -5-yl, 1,2,4-triazol-1-, -3- or 5-yl, 1- or5-tetrazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazol-4- or -5-yl, 1,2,4-oxadiazol-3- or -5-yl,1,3,4-thiadiazol-2- or -5-yl, 1,2,4-thiadiazol-3- or -5-yl,1,2,3-thiadiazol-4- or -5-yl, 3- or 4-pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, 1-, 2-,3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-indolyl, 4- or 5-isoindolyl, 1-, 2-, 4- or5-benzimidazolyl, 1-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-benzopyrazolyl, 2-, 4-, 5-, 6-or 7-benzoxazolyl, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-benzisoxazolyl, 2-, 4-, 5-, 6- or7-benzothiazolyl, 2-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-benzisothiazolyl, 4-, 5-, 6- or7-benz-2,1,3-oxadiazolyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-quinolyl, 1-, 3-,4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-isoquinolyl, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-cinnolinyl, 2-,4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-quinazolinyl, 5- or 6-quinoxalinyl, 2-, 3-, 5-, 6-,7- or 8-2H-benzo-1,4-oxazinyl, further preferably 1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl,1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl, 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4- or -5-yl or2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-5-yl.

The heterocyclic radicals may also be partially or fully hydrogenatedand also denote, for example, 2,3-dihydro-2-, -3-, -4- or -5-furyl,2,5-dihydro-2-, -3-, -4- or 5-furyl, tetrahydro-2- or -3-furyl,1,3-dioxolan-4-yl, tetrahydro-2- or -3-thienyl, 2,3-dihydro-1-, -2-,-3-, -4- or -5-pyrrolyl, 2,5-dihydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4- or -5-pyrrolyl,1-, 2- or 3-pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydro-1-, -2- or -4-imidazolyl,2,3-dihydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4- or -5-pyrazolyl, tetrahydro-1-, -3- or-4-pyrazolyl, 1,4-dihydro-1-, -2-, -3- or -4-pyridyl,1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5- or -6-pyridyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or4-piperidinyl, 2-, 3- or 4-morpholinyl, tetrahydro-2-, -3- or-4-pyranyl, 1,4-dioxanyl, 1,3-dioxan-2-, -4- or -5-yl, hexahydro-1-, -3-or -4-pyridazinyl, hexahydro-1-, -2-, -4- or -5-pyrimidinyl, 1-, 2- or3-piperazinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7- or-8-quinolyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7- or-8-isoquinolyl, 2-, 3-, 5-, 6-, 7- or8-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo-1,4-oxazinyl, further preferably2,3-methylenedioxyphenyl, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl,2,3-ethylenedioxyphenyl, 3,4-ethylenedioxyphenyl,3,4-(difluoromethylenedioxy)phenyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5- or 6-yl,2,3-(2-oxomethylenedioxy)phenyl or also3,4-dihydro-2H-1,5-benzo-dioxepin-6- or -7-yl, furthermore preferably2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl or 2,3-dihydro-2-oxofuranyl.

Heterocycle furthermore denotes, for example, 2-oxopiperidin-1-yl,2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-1H-pyridin-1-yl, 3-oxomorpholin-4-yl,4-oxo-1H-pyridin-1-yl, 2,6-dioxopiperidin1-yl, 2-oxopiperazin-1-yl,2,6-dioxopiperazin-1-yl, 2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl,2-oxo-1,3-oxazolidin-3-yl, 3-oxo-2H-pyridazin-2-yl, 2-caprolactam-1-yl(=2-oxoazepan-1-yl), 2-hydroxy-6-oxopiperazin-1-yl,2-methoxy-6-oxopiperazin-1-yl or 2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-3-on-2-yl.

Heteroycycloalkyl here denotes a fully hydrogenated or saturatedheterocycle, heterocycloalkenyl (one or more double bonds) orheterocycloalkynyl (one or more triple bonds) denotes a partially orincompletely hydrogenated or unsaturated heterocycle, heteroaryl denotesan aromatic or fully unsaturated heterocycle.

Furthermore, the abbreviations below have the following meanings:

-   Boc ter-butoxycarbonyl-   CBZ benzyloxycarbonyl-   DNP 2,4-dinitrophenyl-   FMOC 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-   imi-DNP 2,4-dinitrophenyl in the 1-position of the imidazole ring-   OMe methyl ester-   POA phenoxyacetyl-   DCCI dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-   HOBt 1-hydroxybenzotriazole

All physiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates andstereoisomers of these compounds, including mixtures thereof in allratios, are also in accordance with the invention.

Compounds of the general formula I may contain one or more centres ofchirality, so that all stereoisomers, enentiomers, diastereomers, etc.,of the compounds of the general formula I are also claimed in thepresent invention.

The invention also relates to the optically active forms(stereoisomers), the enantiomers, the racemates, the diastereomers andhydrates and solvates of these compounds.

Compounds of the formula I according to the invention may be chiralowing to their molecular structure and may accordingly occur in variousenantiomeric forms. They may therefore be in racemic or optically activeform. Since the pharmaceutical efficacy of the racemates orstereoisomers of the compounds according to the invention may differ, itmay be desirable to use the enantiomers. In these cases, the endproduct, but also even the intermediates, may be separated intoenantiomeric compounds by chemical or physical measures known to theperson skilled in the art or already employed as such in the synthesis.

Pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable derivatives are taken tomean, for example, salts of the compounds according to the invention andalso so-called prodrug compounds. Prodrug compounds are taken to meancompounds of the formula I which have been modified with, for example,alkyl or acyl groups (see also amino- and hydroxyl-protecting groupsbelow), sugars or oligopeptides and which are rapidly cleaved orliberated in the organism to form the effective compounds according tothe invention. These also include biodegradable polymer derivatives ofthe compounds according to the invention, as described, for example, inInt. J. Pharm. 115 (1995), 61-67.

Suitable acid-addition salts are inorganic or organic salts of allphysiologically or pharmacologically acceptable acids, for examplehalides, in particular hydrochlorides or hydrobromides, lactates,sulfates, citrates, tartrates, maleates, fumarates, oxalates, acetates,phosphates, methylsulfonates or p-toluenesulfonates.

Very particular preference is given to the hydrochlorides, thetrifluoroacetates or the bistrifluoroacetates of the compounds accordingto the invention.

Solvates of the compounds of the formula I are taken to mean adductionsof inert solvent molecules onto the compounds of the formula I whichform owing to their mutual attractive force. Solvates are, for example,hydrates, such as monohydrates or dihydrates, or alcoholates, i.e.addition compounds with alcohols, such as, for example, with methanol orethanol.

It is furthermore intended that a compound of the formula I includesisotope-labelled forms thereof. An isotope-labelled form of a compoundof the formula I is identical to this compound apart from the fact thatone or more atoms of the compound have been replaced by an atom or atomshaving an atomic mass or mass number which differs from the atomic massor mass number of the atom which usually occurs naturally. Examples ofisotopes which are readily commercially available and which can beincorporated into a compound of the formula I by well-known methodsinclude isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus,fluorine and chlorine, for example ²H, ³H, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, ¹⁷O, ³¹P,³²P, ³⁵S, ¹⁸F and ³⁶Cl, respectively. A compound of the formula I, aprodrug thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either whichcontains one or more of the above-mentioned isotopes and/or otherisotopes of other atoms is intended to be part of the present invention.An isotope-labelled compound of the formula I can be used in a number ofbeneficial ways. For example, an isotope-labelled compound of theformula I into which, for example, a radioisotope, such as ³H or ¹⁴C,has been incorporated is suitable for medicament and/or substrate tissuedistribution assays. These radioisotopes, i.e. tritium (³H) andcarbon-14 (¹⁴C), are particularly preferred owing to their simplepreparation and excellent detectability. Incorporation of heavierisotopes, for example deuterium (²H), into a compound of the formula Ihas therapeutic advantages owing to the higher metabolic stability ofthis isotope-labelled compound. Higher metabolic stability translatesdirectly into an increased in-vivo half-life or lower dosages, whichunder most circumstances would represent a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. An isotope-labelled compound of the formula I canusually be prepared by carrying out the procedures disclosed in thesynthesis schemes and the related description, in the example part andin the preparation part in the present text, replacing anon-isotope-labelled reactant with a readily available isotope-labelledreactant.

In order to manipulate the oxidative metabolism of the compound by wayof the primary kinetic isotope effect, deuterium (²H) can also beincorporated into a compound of the formula I. The primary kineticisotope effect is a change in the rate of a chemical reaction thatresults from exchange of isotopic nuclei, which in turn is caused by thechange in ground state energies necessary for covalent bond formationafter this isotopic exchange. Exchange of a heavier isotope usuallyresults in a lowering of the ground state energy for a chemical bond andthus causes a reduction in the rate in rate-limiting bond breakage. Ifthe bond breakage occurs in or in the vicinity of a saddle-point regionalong the coordinate of a multi-product reaction, the productdistribution ratios can be altered substantially. For explanation: ifdeuterium is bonded to a carbon atom in a non-exchangeable position,rate differences of k_(M)/k_(D)=2-7 are typical. If this rate differenceis successfully applied to a compound of the formula I that issusceptible to oxidation, the profile of this compound in vivo canthereby be drastically modified and result in improved pharmacokineticproperties.

When discovering and developing therapeutic agents, the person skilledin the art attempts to optimise pharmacokinetic parameters whileretaining desirable in-vitro properties. It is reasonable to assume thatmany compounds with poor pharmacokinetic profiles are susceptible tooxidative metabolism. In-vitro liver microsomal assays currentlyavailable provide valuable information on the course of oxidativemetabolism of this type, which in turn permits the rational design ofdeuterated compounds of the formula I with improved stability throughresistance to such oxidative metabolism. Significant improvements in thepharmacokinetic profiles of the compounds of the formula I are therebyobtained and can be expressed quantitatively in terms of increases inthe in-vivo half-life (T/2), concentration at maximum therapeutic effect(C_(max)), area under the dose response curve (AUC), and F; and in termsof reduced clearance, dose and costs of materials.

The following is intended to illustrate the above: a compound of theformula I which has multiple potential sites of attack for oxidativemetabolism, for example benzylic hydrogen atoms and hydrogen atomsbonded to a nitrogen atom, is prepared as a series of analogues in whichvarious combinations of hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium atoms,so that some, most or all of these hydrogen atoms have been replaced bydeuterium atoms. Half-life determinations enable favourable and accuratedetermination of the extent to which the improvement in resistance tooxidative metabolism has improved. In this way, it is determined thatthe half-life of the parent compound can be extended by up to 100% asthe result of deuterium-hydrogen exchange of this type.

The replacement of hydrogen by deuterium in a compound of the formula Ican also be used to achieve a favourable modification of the metabolitespectrum of the starting compound in order to diminish or eliminateundesired toxic metabolites. For example, if a toxic metabolite arisesthrough oxidative carbon-hydrogen (C—H) bond cleavage, it can reasonablybe assumed that the deuterated analogue will greatly diminish oreliminate production of the undesired metabolite, even if the particularoxidation is not a rate-determining step. Further information on thestate of the art with respect to deuterium-hydrogen exchange is given,for example in Hanzlik et al., J. Org. Chem. 55, 3992-3997, 1990, Reideret al., J. Org. Chem. 52, 3326-3334, 1987, Foster, Adv. Drug Res. 14,1-40, 1985, Gillette et al., Biochemistry 33(10), 2927-2937, 1994, andJarman et al., Carcinogenesis 16(4), 683-688, 1993.

The invention also relates to mixtures of the compounds of the formula Iaccording to the invention, for example mixtures of two diastereomers,for example in the ratio 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:10, 1:100 or 1:1000.These are particularly preferably mixtures of two stereoisomericcompounds. However, preference is also given to mixtures of two or morecompounds of the formula I.

In addition, the invention relates to a process for the preparation ofthe compounds of the formula I, characterised in that a compound of theformula III is prepared from a compound of the formula II by hydrolysis,a compound of the formula III is reacted with a compound of the formulaIV to give a compound of the formula V, a compound of the formula V isconverted into a compound of the formula VI, a compound of the formulaVI is reacted with a compound of the formula VII to give a compound ofthe formula VIII and a compound of the formula VIII is converted into acompound of the formula I by removal of protecting groups, characterisedin that I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, R¹, A¹, A², L¹, L², X, X′, Y, Y′, T, R, R′,m, n and Hal in the compounds of the formula I, II; III; IV, V, VI; VIIand VIII have the meanings indicated above.

In addition, the invention relates to a process for the preparation ofthe compounds of the formula I, characterised in that a compound of theformula IX is reacted with a compound of the formula X to give acompound of the formula XI, one of the compound of the formula XI isconverted into a compound of the formula XII by removal of protectinggroups and a compound of the formula XII is reacted with a compound ofthe formula XIII to give a compound of the formula I, characterised inthat I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, R¹, A¹, A², L¹, L², X, X′, Y, Y′, T, R, R′, m,n and Hal in the compounds of the formula I, IX, X, XI, XII and XIIIhave the meanings indicated above.

In addition, the invention relates to a process for the preparation ofthe compounds of the formula I, characterised in that

-   a) the base of a compound of the formula I is converted into one of    its salts by treatment with an acid, or-   b) an acid of a compound of the formula I is converted into one of    its salts by treatment with a base.

It is also possible to carry out the reactions stepwise in each case andto modify the sequence of the linking reactions of the building blockswith adaptation of the protecting-group concept.

The starting materials or starting compounds are generally known. Ifthey are novel, they can be prepared by methods known per se.

If desired, the starting materials can also be formed in situ by notisolating them from the reaction mixture, but instead immediatelyconverting them further into the compounds of the formula I.

The compounds of the formula I are preferably obtained by liberatingthem from their functional derivatives by solvolysis, in particular byhydrolysis, or by hydrogenolysis. Preferred starting materials for thesolvolysis or hydrogenolysis are those which contain correspondinglyprotected amino, carboxyl and/or hydroxyl groups instead of one or morefree amino, carboxyl and/or hydroxyl groups, preferably those whichcarry an amino-protecting group instead of an H atom which is connectedto an N atom. Preference is furthermore given to starting materialswhich carry a hydroxyl-protecting group instead of the H atom of ahydroxyl group. Preference is also given to starting materials whichcarry a protected carboxyl group instead of a free carboxyl group. It isalso possible for a plurality of identical or different protected amino,carboxyl and/or hydroxyl groups to be present in the molecule of thestarting material. If the protecting groups present are different fromone another, they can in many cases be cleaved off selectively.

The term “amino-protecting group” is generally known and relates togroups which are suitable for protecting (blocking) an amino groupagainst chemical reactions, but which can easily be removed after thedesired chemical reaction has been carried out elsewhere in themolecule. Typical of such groups are, in particular, unsubstituted orsubstituted acyl groups, furthermore unsubstituted or substituted aryl(for example 2,4-dinitophenyl) or aralkyl groups (for example benzyl,4-nitrobenzyl, triphenylmethyl). Since the amino-protecting groups areremoved after the desired reaction or reaction sequence, their type andsize is, in addition, not crucial, but preference is given to thosehaving 1-20, in particular 1-8, C atoms. The term “acyl group” is to beunderstood in the broadest sense in connection with the present process.It encompasses acyl groups derived from aliphatic, araliphatic, aromaticor heterocyclic carboxylic acids or sulfonic acids and, in particular,alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl and especially aralkoxycarbonyl groups.Examples of such acyl groups are alkanoyl, such as acteyl, propionyl,buturyl, aralkanoyl, such as phenylacetyl, aroyl, such as benzoyl ortoluyl, aryoxyaklkanoyl, such as phenoxyacetyl, alkyoxycarbonyyl, suchas methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, BOC,2-iodoethoxycaronyl, aralkoxycarbonyl. such as CBZ,4-methoxybenzyloxy-carbonyl or FMOC. Preferred acyl groups are CBZ,FMOC, benzyl and acetyl.

The term “acid-protecting group” or “carboxyl-protecting group” islikewise generally known and relates to groups which are suitable forprotecting a —COOH group against chemical reactions, but which caneasily be removed after the desired chemical reaction has been carriedout elsewhere in the molecule. The use of esters instead of the freeacids, for example of substituted and unsubstituted alkyl esters (suchas methyl, ethyl, tert-butyl and substituted derivatives thereof), ofsubstituted and unsubstituted benzyl esters or silyl esters, is typical.The type and size of the acid-protecting groups is not crucial, butpreference is given to those having 1-20, in particular 1-10, C atoms.

The term “hydroxyl-protecting group” is likewise generally known andrelates to groups which are suitable for protecting a hydroxyl groupagainst chemical reactions, but which can easily be removed after thedesired chemical reaction has been carried out elsewhere in themolecule. Typical of such groups are the above-mentioned unsubstitutedor substituted aryl, aralkyl or acyl groups, furthermore also alkylgroups. The their type and size of the hydroxyl-protecting groups is notcrucial, but preference is given to those having 1-20, in particular1-10, C atoms. Examples of hyrdoxyl-protecting groups are, inter alia,benzyl, p-nitrobenzoyl, p-toluenesulfonyl and acetyl, where benzyl andacetyl are preferred.

Further typical examples of amino-, acid- and hydroxyl-protecting groupsare found, for example, in “Greene's Protective Groups in OrganicSynthesis”, fourth edition, Wiley-Interscience, 2007.

The functional derivatives of the compounds of the formula I to be usedas starting materials can be prepared by known methods of amino-acid andpeptide synthesis, as described, for example, in the said standard worksand patent applications.

The compounds of the formula I are liberated from their functionalderivatives, depending on the protecting group used, for example, withthe aid of strong acids, advantageously using trifluoroacetic acid orperchloric acid, but also using other strong inorganic acids, such ashydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, strong organic acids, such astrichloroacetic acid, or sulfonic acids, such as benzoyl- orp-toluenesulfonic acid. The presence of an additional inert solventand/or a catalyst is possible, but is not always necessary.

Depending on the respective synthetic route, the starting materials canoptionally be reacted in the presence of an inert solvent.

Suitable inert solvents are, for example, heptane, hexane, petroleumether, DMSO, benzene, toluene, xylene, trichloroethylene-,1,2-dichloroethanecarbon tetrachloride, chloroform or dichloromethane;alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, n-butanolor tert-butanol; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether(preferably for substitution on the indole nitrogen), tetrahydrofuran(THF) or dioxane; glycol ethers, such as ethylene glycol monomethyl ormonoethyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethy-I ether (diglyme); ketones,such as acetone or butanone; amides, such as acetamide,dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) or dimethylformamide (DMF);nitriles, such as acetonitrile; esters, such as ethyl acetate,carboxylic acids or acid anhydrides, such as, for example, such asacetic acid or acetic anhydride, nitro compounds, such as nitromethaneor nitro-benzene, optionally also mixtures of the said solvents with oneanother or mixtures with water.

The amount of solvent is not crucial; 10 g to 500 g of solvent canpreferably be added per g of the compound of the formula I to bereacted.

It may be advantageous to add an acid-binding agent, for example analkali metal or alkaline-earth metal hydroxide, carbonate or bicarbonateor other alkali or alkaline-earth metal salts of weak acids, preferablya potassium, sodium or calcium salt, or to add an organic base, such as,for example, on triethylamine, dimethylamine, pyridine or quinoline, oran excess of the amine component.

The resultant compounds according to the invention can be separated fromthe corresponding solution in which they are prepared (for example bycentrifugation and washing) and can be stored in another compositionafter separation, or they can remain directly in the preparationsolution. The resultant compounds according to the invention can also betaken up in desired solvents for the particular use.

The reaction duration depends on the reaction conditions selected. Ingeneral, the reaction duration is 0.5 hour to 10 days, preferably 1 to24 hours. On use of a microwave, the reaction time can be reduced tovalues of 1 to 60 minutes.

The compounds of the formula I and also the starting materials for theirpreparation are, in addition, prepared by known methods, as described inthe literature (for example in standard works, such as Houben-Weyl,Methoden der organischen Chemie [Methods of Organic Chemistry],Georg-Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart), for example under reaction conditionswhich are known and suitable for the said reactions. Use can also bemade here of variants known per se, which are not described here ingreater detail.

Conventional work-up steps, such as, for example, addition of water tothe reaction mixture and extraction, enable the compounds to be obtainedafter removal of the solvent. It may be advantageous, for furtherpurification of the product, to follow this with a distillation orcrystallisation or to carry out a chromatographic purification.

An acid of the formula I can be converted into the associated additionsalt using a base, for example by reaction of equivalent amounts of theacid and base in an inert solvent, such as ethanol, and inclusiveevaporation. Suitable bases for this reaction are, in particular, thosewhich give physiologically acceptable salts. Thus, the acid of theformula I can be converted into the corresponding metal salt, inparticular alkali or alkaline-earth metal salt, using a base (forexample sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate orpotassium carbonate) or into the corresponding ammonium salt. Organicbases which give physiologically acceptable salts, such as, for example,ethanolamine, are also suitable for this reaction.

On the other hand, a base of the formula I can be converted into theassociated acid-addition salt using an acid, for example by reaction ofequivalent amounts of the base and acid in an inert solvent, such asethanol, with subsequent evaporation. Suitable acids for this reactionare, in particular, those which give physiologically acceptable salts.Thus, it is possible to use inorganic acids, for example sulfuric acid,nitric acid, hydrohalic acids, such as hydrochloric acid or hydrobromicacid, phosphoric acids, such as orthophosphoric acid, sulfamic acid,furthermore organic acids, in particular aliphatic, alicyclic,araliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic, mono- or polybasic carboxylic,sulfonic or sulfuric acids, for example formic acid, acetic acid,propionic acid, pivalic acid, diethylacetic acid, malonic acid, succinicacid, pimelic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, lactic acid, tartaricacid, malic acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, ascorbic acid, nicotinicacid, isonicotinic acid, methane- or ethanesulfonic acid,ethanedisulfonic acid, 2-hydroxysulfonic acid, benzene-sulfonic acid,p-toluenesulfonic acid, naphthalenemom- and disulfonic acids orlaurylsulfuric acid. Salts with physiologically unacceptable acids, forexample picrates, can be used for the isolation and/or purification ofthe compounds of the formula I.

It has been found that the compounds of the formula I are well toleratedand have valuable pharmacological properties, since they selectivelyinhibit aspartyl proteases and in particular cathepsin D.

The invention therefore furthermore relates to the use of compoundsaccording to the invention for the preparation of a medicament for thetreatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases which are caused, promotedand/or propagated by cathepsin D and/or by cathepsin D-promoted signaltransduction.

The invention thus also relates, in particular, to a medicamentcomprising at least one compound according to the invention and/or oneof its physiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugsand stereoisomers, including mixtures thereof in all ratios, for use inthe treatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/orpathophysiological states.

Particular preference is given, in particular, to physiological and/orpathophysiological states which are connected to cathepsin D.

Physiological and/or pathophysiological states are taken to meanphysiological and/or pathophysiological states which are medicallyrelevant, such as, for example, diseases or illnesses and medicaldisorders, complaints, symptoms or complications and the like, inparticular diseases.

The invention furthermore relates to a medicament comprising at leastone compound according to the invention and/or one of itsphysiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs andstereoisomers, including mixtures thereof in all ratios, for use in thetreatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/or pathophysiologicalstates selected from the group consisting of arthrosis, traumaticcartilage injuries and arthritis, in particular rheumatoid arthritis.

The invention furthermore relates to a medicament comprising at leastone compound according to the invention and/or one of itsphysiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs andstereoisomers, including mixtures thereof in all ratios, for use in thetreatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/or pathophysiologicalstates selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease,Huntington's disease, mucolipidosis, cancer, in particular breastcancer, contact dermatitis, late-onset hypersensitivity reaction,inflammation, endometriosis, scarring, benign prostate hyperplasia,osteosarcoma, rickets, skin diseases, such as, for example, psoriasis,immunological diseases, autoimmune diseases and immunodeficiencydiseases.

In this connection, brain cancer, lung cancer, squamous cell cancer,bladder cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, kidneycancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, head cancer, neck cancer,oesophageal cancer, gynaecological cancer, thyroid cancer, lymphomas,chronic leukaemia and acute leukaemia are to be regarded as cancerousdiseases, all of which usually count amongst the group ofhyperproliferative diseases.

Pain is a complex sensory perception which, as an acute event, has thecharacter of a warning and control signal, but as chronic pain has lostthis and in this case (as chronic pain syndrome) should be regarded andtreated today as an independent syndrome. Hyperalgesia is the term usedin medicine for excessive sensitivity to pain and reaction to a stimuluswhich is usually painful. Stimuli which can trigger pain are, forexample, pressure, heat, cold or inflammation. Hyperalgesia is a form ofhyperaesthesia, the generic term for excessive sensitivity to astimulus. Allodynia is the term used in medicine for the sensation ofpain which is triggered by stimuli which do not usually cause pain.

The invention thus furthermore relates to a medicament comprising atleast one compound according to the invention and/or one of itsphysiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs andstereoisomers, including mixtures thereof in all ratios, for use in thetreatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/or pathophysiologicalconditions, selected from the group consisting of pain, allodynia andhyperalgesia.

The invention thus particularly preferably relates to a medicamentcomprising at least one compound according to the invention and/or oneof its physiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugsand stereoisomers, including mixtures thereof in all ratios, for use inthe treatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/orpathophysiological conditions, selected from the group consisting ofarthrosis, traumatic cartilage injuries, arthritis, pain, allodynia andhyperalgesia.

It is intended that the medicaments disclosed above include acorresponding use of the compounds according to the invention for thepreparation of a medicament for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of theabove physiological and/or pathophysiological states.

It is additionally intended that the medicaments disclosed above includea corresponding method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of the abovephysiological and/or pathophysiological states in which at least onecompound according to the invention is administered to a patient in needof such a treatment.

The compounds according to the invention preferably exhibit anadvantageous biological activity which can easily be demonstrated inenzyme assays and animal experiments, as described in the examples. Insuch enzyme-based assays, the antibodies according to the inventionpreferably exhibit and cause an inhibiting effect, which is usuallydocumented by IC₅₀ values in a suitable range, preferably in themicromolar range and more preferably in the nanomolar range.

The compounds according to the invention can be administered to humansor animals, in particular mammals, such as apes, dogs, cats, rats ormice, and can be used in the therapeutic treatment of the human oranimal body and in the combating of the above-mentioned diseases. Theycan furthermore be used as diagnostic agents or as reagents.

Furthermore, compounds according to the invention can be used for theisolation and investigation of the activity or expression of cathepsinD. In addition, they are particularly suitable for use in diagnosticmethods for diseases in connection with disturbed cathepsin D activity.The invention therefore furthermore relates to the use of the compoundsaccording to the invention for the isolation and investigation of theactivity or expression of cathepsin D or as binders and inhibitors ofcathepsin D.

For diagnostic purposes, the compounds according to the invention can,for example, be radioactively labelled. Examples of radioactive labelsare ³H, ¹⁴C, ²³¹I and ¹²⁵I. A preferred labelling method is the iodogenmethod (Fraker et al., 1978). In addition, the compounds according tothe invention can be labelled by enzymes, fluorophores and chemophores.Examples of enzymes are alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase andglucose oxidase, an example of a fluorophore is fluorescein, an exampleof a chemophore is luminol, and automated detection systems, for examplefor fluorescent colorations, are described, for example, in U.S. Pat.No. 4,125,828 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,554.

The compounds of the formula I can be used for the preparation ofpharmaceutical preparations, in particular by non-chemical methods. Inthis case, they are brought into a suitable dosage form together with atleast one solid, liquid and/or semi-liquid excipient or adjuvant andoptionally in combination with one or more further active compound(s).

The invention therefore furthermore relates to pharmaceuticalpreparations comprising at least one compound of the formula I and/orphysiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates andstereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios. Inparticular, the invention also relates to pharmaceutical preparationswhich comprise further excipients and/or adjuvants, and also topharmaceutical preparations which comprise at least one furthermedicament active compound.

In particular, the invention also relates to a process for thepreparation of a pharmaceutical preparation, characterised in that acompound of the formula I and/or one of its physiologically acceptablesalts, derivatives, solvates and stereoisomers, including mixturesthereof in all ratios, is brought into a suitable dosage form togetherwith a solid, liquid or semi-liquid excipient or adjuvant and optionallywith a further medicament active compound.

The pharmaceutical preparations according to the invention can be usedas medicaments in human or veterinary medicine. The patient or host canbelong to any mammal species, for example a primate species,particularly humans; rodents, including mice, rats and hamsters;rabbits; horses, cattle, dogs, cats, etc. Animal models are of interestfor experimental investigations, where they provide a model for thetreatment of a human disease.

Suitable carrier substances are organic or inorganic substances whichare suitable for enteral (for example oral), parenteral or topicaladministration and do not react with the novel compounds, for examplewater, vegetable oils (such as sunflower oil or cod-liver oil), benzylalcohols, polyethylene glycols, gelatine, carbohydrates, such as lactoseor starch, magnesium stearate, talc, lanolin or Vaseline. Owing to hisexpert knowledge, the person skilled in the art is familiar with whichadjuvants are suitable for the desired medicament formulation. Besidessolvents, for example water, physiological saline solution or alcohols,such as, for example, ethanol, propanol or glycerol, sugar solutions,such as glucose or mannitol solutions, or a mixture of the saidsolvents, gel formers, tablet assistants and other active-ingredientcarriers, it is also possible to use, for example, lubricants,stabilisers and/or wetting agents, emulsifiers, salts for influencingthe osmotic pressure, antioxidants, dispersants, antifoams, buffersubstances, flavours and/or aromas or flavour correctants,preservatives, solubilisers or dyes. If desired, preparations ormedicaments according to the invention may comprise one or more furtheractive compounds, for example one or more vitamins.

If desired, preparations or medicaments according to the invention maycomprise one or more further active compounds and/or one or more actionenhancers (adjuvants).

The terms “pharmaceutical formulation” and “pharmaceutical preparation”are used as synonyms for the purposes of the present invention.

As used here, “pharmaceutically tolerated” relates to medicaments,precipitation reagents, excipients, adjuvants, stabilisers, solvents andother agents which facilitate the administration of the pharmaceuticalpreparations obtained therefrom to a mammal without undesiredphysiological side effects, such as, for example, nausea, dizziness,digestion problems or the like.

In pharmaceutical preparations for parenteral administration, there is arequirement for isotonicity, euhydration and tolerability and safety ofthe formulation (low toxicity), of the adjuvants employed and of theprimary packaging. Surprisingly, the compounds according to theinvention preferably have the advantage that direct use is possible andfurther purification steps for the removal of toxicologicallyunacceptable agents, such as, for example, high concentrations oforganic solvents or other toxicologically unacceptable adjuvants, arethus unnecessary before use of the compounds according to the inventionin pharmaceutical formulations.

The invention particularly preferably also relates to pharmaceuticalpreparations comprising at least one compound according to the inventionin precipitated non-crystalline, precipitated crystalline or indissolved or suspended form, and optionally excipients and/or adjuvantsand/or further pharmaceutical active compounds.

The compounds according to the invention preferably enable thepreparation of highly concentrated formulations without unfavourable,undesired aggregation of the compounds according to the inventionoccurring. Thus, ready-to-use solutions having a high active-ingredientcontent can be prepared with the aid of compounds according to theinvention with aqueous solvents or in aqueous media.

The compounds and/or physiologically acceptable salts and solvatesthereof can also be lyophilised and the resultant lyophilisates used,for example, for the preparation of injection preparations.

Aqueous preparations can be prepared by dissolving or suspendingcompounds according to the invention in an aqueous solution andoptionally adding adjuvants. To this end, defined volumes of stocksolutions comprising the said further adjuvants in defined concentrationare advantageously added to a solution or suspension having a definedconcentration of compounds according to the invention, and the mixtureis optionally diluted with water to the pre-calculated concentration.Alternatively, the adjuvants can be added in solid form. The amounts ofstock solutions and/or water which are necessary in each case cansubsequently be added to the aqueous solution or suspension obtained.Compounds according to the invention can also advantageously bedissolved or suspended directly in a solution comprising all furtheradjuvants.

The solutions or suspensions comprising compounds according to theinvention and having a pH of 4 to 10, preferably having a pH of 5 to 9,and an osmolality of 250 to 350 mOsmol/kg can advantageously beprepared. The pharmaceutical preparation can thus be administereddirectly substantially without pain intravenously, intra-arterially,intra-articularly, subcutaneously or percutaneously. In addition, thepreparation may also be added to infusion solutions, such as, forexample, glucose solution, isotonic saline solution or Ringer'ssolution, which may also contain further active compounds, thus alsoenabling relatively large amounts of active compound to be administered.

Pharmaceutical preparations according to the invention may also comprisemixtures of a plurality of compounds according to the invention.

The preparations according to the invention are physiologically welltolerated, easy to prepare, can be dispensed precisely and arepreferably stable with respect to assay, decomposition products andaggregates throughout storage and transport and during multiple freezingand thawing processes. They can preferably be stored in a stable mannerover a period of at least three months to two years at refrigeratortemperature (2-8° C.) and at room temperature (23-27° C.) and 60%relative atmospheric humidity (R.H.).

For example, the compounds according to the invention can be stored in astable manner by drying and when necessary converted into a ready-to-usepharmaceutical preparation by dissolution or suspension. Possible dryingmethods are, for example, without being restricted to these examples,nitrogen-gas drying, vacuum-oven drying, lyophilisation, washing withorganic solvents and subsequent air drying, liquid-bed drying,fluidised-bed drying, spray drying, roller drying, layer drying, airdrying at room temperature and further methods.

The term “effective amount” denotes the amount of a medicament or of apharmaceutical active compound which causes in a tissue, system, animalor human a biological or medical response which is sought or desired,for example, by a researcher or physician.

In addition, the term “therapeutically effective amount” denotes anamount which, compared with a corresponding subject who has not receivedthis amount, has the following consequence: improved treatment, healing,prevention or elimination of a disease, syndrome, disease state,complaint, disorder or prevention of side effects or also a reduction inthe progress of a disease, complaint or disorder. The term“therapeutically effective amount” also encompasses the amounts whichare effective for increasing normal physiological function.

On use of preparations or medicaments according to the invention, thecompounds according to the invention and/or physiologically acceptablesalts and solvates thereof are generally used analogously to known,commercially available preparations or preparations, preferably indosages of between 0.1 and 500 mg, in particular 5 and 300 mg, per useunit. The daily dose is preferably between 0.001 and 250 mg/kg, inparticular 0.01 and 100 mg/kg, of body weight. The preparation can beadministered one or more times per day, for example two, three or fourtimes per day. However, the individual dose for a patient depends on alarge number of individual factors, such as, for example, on theefficacy of the particular compound used, on the age, body weight,general state of health, sex, nutrition, on the time and method ofadministration, on the excretion rate, on the combination with othermedicaments and on the severity and duration of the particular disease.

A measure of the uptake of a medicament active compound in an organismis its bioavailability. If the medicament active compound is deliveredto the organism intravenously in the form of an injection solution, itsabsolute bioavailability, i.e. the proportion of the pharmaceuticalwhich reaches the systemic blood, i.e. the major circulation, inunchanged form, is 100%. In the case of oral administration of atherapeutic active compound, the active compound is generally in theform of a solid in the formulation and must therefore first be dissolvedin order that it is able to overcome the entry barriers, for example thegastrointestinal tract, the oral mucous membrane, nasal membranes or theskin, in particular the stratum corneum, or can be absorbed by the body.Data on the pharmacokinetics, i.e. on the bioavailability, can beobtained analogously to the method of J. Shaffer et al., J. Pharm.Sciences, 88 (1999), 313-318.

Furthermore, medicaments of this type can be prepared by means of one ofthe processes generally known in the pharmaceutical art.

Medicaments can be adapted for administration via any desired suitableroute, for example by the oral (including buccal or sublingual), rectal,pulmonary, nasal, topical (including buccal, sublingual or transdermal),vaginal or parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular,intravenous, intradermal and in particular intra-articular) routes.Medicaments of this type can be prepared by means of all processes knownin the pharmaceutical art by, for example, combining the active compoundwith the excipient(s) or adjuvant(s).

Parenteral administration is preferably suitable for administration ofthe medicaments according to the invention. In the case of parenteraladministration, intra-articular administration is particularlypreferred.

The invention thus preferably also relates to the use of apharmaceutical preparation according to the invention forintra-articular administration in the treatment and/or prophylaxis ofphysiological and/or pathophysiological states selected from the groupconsisting of arthrosis, traumatic cartilage injuries, arthritis, pain,allodynia or hyperalgesia.

Intra-articular administration has the advantage that the compoundaccording to the invention can be administered directly into thesynovial fluid in the vicinity of the joint cartilage and is also ableto diffuse from there into the cartilage tissue. Pharmaceuticalpreparations according to the invention can thus also be injecteddirectly into the joint gap and thus develop their action directly atthe site of action as intended. The compounds according to the inventionare also suitable for the preparation of medicaments to be administeredparenterally having slow, sustained and/or controlled release of activecompound. They are thus also suitable for the preparation ofdelayed-release formulations, which are advantageous for the patientsince administration is only necessary at relatively large timeintervals.

The medicaments adapted to parenteral administration include aqueous andnon-aqueous sterile injection solutions comprising antioxidants,buffers, bacteriostatics and solutes, by means of which the formulationis rendered isotonic with the blood or synovial fluid of the recipientto be treated; as well as aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions,which can comprise suspension media and thickeners. The formulations canbe delivered in single-dose or multi-dose containers, for example sealedampoules and vials, and stored in the freeze-dried (lyophilised) state,so that only the addition of the sterile carrier liquid, for examplewater for injection purposes, immediately before use is necessary.Injection solutions and suspensions prepared in accordance with theformulation can be prepared from sterile powders, granules and tablets.

The compounds according to the invention can also be administered in theform of liposome delivery systems, such as, for example, smallunilamellar vesicles, large unilamellar vesicles and multilamellarvesicles. Liposomes can be formed from various phospholipids, such as,for example, cholesterol, stearylamine or phosphatidylcholines.

The compounds according to the invention can also be coupled to solublepolymers as targeted medicament excipients. Such polymers can encompasspolyvinylpyrrolidone, pyran copolymer,polyhydroxypropylmethacryl-amidophenol,polyhydroxyethylaspartamidophenol or polyethylene oxide polylysine,substituted by palmitoyl radicals. The compounds according to theinvention can furthermore be coupled to a class of biodegradablepolymers which are suitable for achieving slow release of a medicament,for example polylactic acid, poly-epsilon-caprolactone,polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyorthoesters, polyacetals,polydihydroxypyrans, polycyanoacrylates, polylactic-co-glycolic acid,polymers, such as conjugates between dextran and methacrylates,polyphosphoesters, various polysaccharides and poly-amines andpoly-ε-caprolactone, albumin, chitosan, collagen or modified gelatineand crosslinked or amphipathic block copolymers of hydrogels.

Suitable for enteral administration (oral or rectal) are, in particular,tablets, dragees, capsules, syrups, juices, drops or suppositories, andsuitable for topical use are ointments, creams, pastes, lotions, gels,sprays, foams, aerosols, solutions (for example solutions in alcohols,such as ethanol or isopropanol, acetonitrile, DMF, dimethylacetamide,1,2-propanediol or mixtures thereof with one another and/or with water)or powders. Also particularly suitable for topical uses are liposomalpreparations.

In the case of formulation to give an ointment, the active compound canbe employed either with a paraffinic or a water-miscible cream base.Alternatively, the active compound can be formulated to a cream with anoil-in-water cream base or a water-in-oil base.

Medicaments adapted to transdermal administration can be delivered asindependent plasters for extended, close contact with the epidermis ofthe recipient. Thus, for example, the active compound can be suppliedfrom the plaster by means of iontophoresis, as described in generalterms in Pharmaceutical Research, 3(6), 318 (1986).

It goes without saying that, besides the constituents particularlymentioned above, the medicaments according to the invention may alsocomprise other agents usual in the art with respect to the particulartype of pharmaceutical formulation.

The invention also relates to a set (kit) consisting of separate packsof

-   a) an effective amount of a compound of the formula I and/or    physiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugs    and stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios,    and-   b) an effective amount of a further medicament active compound.

The set comprises suitable containers, such as boxes or cartons,individual bottles, bags or ampoules. The set may, for example, compriseseparate ampoules each containing an effective amount of a compound ofthe formula I and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, derivatives,solvates, prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereofin all ratios, and an effective amount of a further medicament activecompound in dissolved or lyophilised form.

Furthermore, the medicaments according to the invention can be used inorder to provide additive or synergistic effects in certain knowntherapies and/or can be used in order to restore the efficacy of certainexisting therapies.

Besides the compounds according to the invention, the pharmaceuticalpreparations according to the invention may also comprise furthermedicament active compounds, for example for use in the treatment ofarthrosis, other cathepsin D inhibitors, NSAIDS, Cox-2 inhibitors,glucocorticoids, hyaluronic acid, azathioprine, methotrexate, anti-CAMantibodies, such as, for example, anti-ICAM-1 antibody, FGF-18. For thetreatment of the other diseases mentioned, the pharmaceuticalpreparations according to the invention may also, besides the compoundsaccording to the invention, comprise further medicament active compoundswhich are known to the person skilled in the art in the treatmentthereof.

The cancer treatment disclosed here can be carried out as therapy with acompound of the present invention or in combination with an operation,irradiation or chemoherapy. Chemotherapy of this type can include theuse of one or more active compounds of the following categories ofantitumour active compounds:

(i) antiproliferative/antineoplastic/DNA-damaging active compounds andcombinations thereof, as used in medical oncology, such as alkylatingactive compounds (for example cis-platin, parboplatin, cyclophosphamide,nitrogen mustard, melphalan, chlorambucil, busulphan and nitrosoureas);antimetabolites (for example antifolates such as fluoropyrimidines suchas 5-fluorouracil and tegafur, raltitrexed, methotrexate, cytosinearabinoside, hydroxyurea and gemcitabine); antitumour antibiotics (forexample anthracyclines, such as adriamycin, bleomycin, doxorubicin,daunomycin, epirubicin, idarubicin, mitomycin-C, dactinomycin andmithramycin); antimitotic active compounds (for example vinca alkaloids,such as vincristine, vinblastine, vindesine and vinorelbine, andtaxoids, such as taxol and taxotere); topoisomerase inhibitors (forexample epipodophyllotoxins, such as etoposide and teniposide,amsacrine, topotecan, irinotecan and camptothecin) andcell-differentiating active compounds (for example all-trans-retinoicacid, 13-cis-retinoic acid and fen-retinide);

(ii) cytostatic active compounds, such as anti-oestrogens (for exampletamoxifen, toremifene, raloxifene, droloxifene and iodoxyfene),oestrogen receptor regulators (for example fulvestrant), anti-androgens(for example bicalutamide, flutamide, nilutamide and cyproteroneacetate), LHRH antagonists or LHRH agonists (for example goserelin,leuprorelin and buserelin), progesterones (for example megestrolacetate), aromatase inhibitors (for example anastrozole, letrozole,vorazole and exemestane) and inhibitors of 5α-reductase, such asfinasteride;

(iii) active compounds which inhibit cancer invasion (for examplemetallo-proteinase inhibitors, like marimastat, and inhibitors ofurokinase plasminogen activator receptor function);

(iv) inhibitors of growth factor function, for example growth factorantibodies, growth factor receptor antibodies, for example theanti-erbb2 antibody trastuzumab [Herceptin™] and the anti-erbbl antibodycetuximab [C225]), farnesyl transferase inhibitors, tyrosine kinaseinhibitors and serine/threonine kinase inhibitors, for exampleinhibitors of the epidermal growth factor family (for example EGFRfamily tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such asN-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-7-methoxy-6-(3-morpholinopropoxy)quinazolin-4-amine(gefitinib, AZD1839),N-(3-ethynylphenyl)-6,7-bis(2-methoxy-ethoxy)quinazolin-4-amine(erlotinib, OSI-774) and6-acrylamido-N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-7-(3-morpholinopropoxy)quinazolin-4-amine(CI 1033), for example inhibitors of the platelet-derived growth factorfamily and, for example, inhibitors of the hepatocyte growth factorfamily;

(v) anti-angiogenic active compounds, such as those which inhibit theeffects of vascular endothelial growth factor (for example theanti-vascular endothelial cell growth factor antibody bevacizumab[Avastin™], compounds which have been published in the internationalpatent applications WO 97/22596, WO 97/30035, WO 97/32856 and WO98/13354) and compounds which act by another mechanism (for examplelinomide, inhibitors of integrin αvβ3 function and angiostatin);

(vi) vessel-destroying agents, such as combretastatin A4 and compoundswhich have been published in the international patent applications WO99/02166, WO 00/40529, WO 00/41669, WO 01/92224, WO 02/04434 and WO02/08213;

(vii) antisense therapies, for example those directed to the targetsmentioned above, such as ISIS 2503, an anti-Ras antisense;

(viii) gene therapy approaches, including, for example, approaches forreplacement of abnormal, modified genes, such as abnormal p53 orabnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2, GDEPT approaches (gene-directed enzyme prodrugtherapy), such as those which use cytosine deaminase, thymidine kinaseor a bacterial nitroreductase enzyme, and approaches which increase thetolerance of a patient to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, such asmulti-drug resistance therapy; and

(ix) immunotherapy approaches, including, for example, ex-vivo andin-vivo approaches for increasing the immunogenicity of tumour cells ofa patient, such as transfection with cytokines, such as interleukin 2,interleukin 4 or granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor,approaches for decreasing T-cell anergy, approaches using transfectedimmune cells, such as cytokine-transfected dendritic cells, approachesfor use of cytokine-transfected tumour cells and approaches for use ofanti-idiotypic antibodies.

The medicaments from Table 1 can preferably, but not exclusively, becombined with the compounds of the formula 1.

TABLE 1 Alkylating Cyclophosphamide Lomustine active BusulfanProcarbazine compounds Ifosfamide Altretamine Melphalan Estramustinephosphate Hexamethylmelamine Mechloroethamine Thiotepa Streptozocinchloroambucil Temozolomide Dacarbazine Semustine Carmustine PlatinumCisplatin Carboplatin active Oxaliplatin ZD-0473 (AnorMED) compoundsSpiroplatin Lobaplatin (Aetema) Carboxyphthalatoplatinum Satraplatin(Johnson Tetraplatin Matthey) Ormiplatin BBR-3464 Iproplatin(Hoffrnann-La Roche) SM-11355 (Sumitomo) AP-5280 (Access) Anti-Azacytidine Tomudex metabolites Gemcitabine Trimetrexate CapecitabineDeoxycoformycin 5-Fluorouracil Fludarabine Floxuridine Pentostatin2-Chlorodesoxyadenosine Raltitrexed 6-Mercaptopurine Hydroxyurea6-Thioguanine Decitabine (SuperGen) Cytarabine Clofarabine (Bioenvision)2-Fluorodesoxycytidine Irofulven (MGI Pharrna) Methotrexate DMDC(Hoffmann- Idatrexate La Roche) Ethynylcytidine (Taiho) Topo- AmsacrineRubitecan (SuperGen) isomerase Epirubicin Exatecan mesylate (Daiichi)inhibitors Etoposide Quinamed (ChemGenex) Teniposide or mitoxantroneGimatecan (Sigma-Tau) Irinotecan (CPT-11) Diflomotecan (Beaufour-7-ethyl-10- Ipsen) hydroxycamptothecin TAS-103 (Taiho) TopotecanElsamitrucin (Spectrum) Dexrazoxanet (TopoTarget) J-107088 (Merck & Co)Pixantrone (Novuspharrna) BNP-1350 (BioNumerik) Rebeccamycin analogueCKD-602 (Chong Kun (Exelixis) Dang) BBR-3576 (Novuspharrna) KW-2170(Kyowa Hakko) Antitumour Dactinomycin (Actinomycin Amonafide antibioticsD) Azonafide Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) Anthrapyrazole DeoxyrubicinOxantrazole Valrubicin Losoxantrone Daunorubicin (Daunomycin) Bleomycinsulfate Epirubicin (Blenoxan) Therarubicin Bleomycinic acid IdarubicinBleomycin A Rubidazon Bleomycin B Plicamycinp Mitomycin C PorfiromycinMEN-10755 (Menarini) Cyanomorpholinodoxorubicin GPX-100 (Gem Mitoxantron(Novantron) Pharmaceuticals) Antimitotic Paclitaxel SB 408075 activeDocetaxel (GlaxoSmithKline) compounds Colchicine E7010 (Abbott)Vinblastine PG-TXL (Cell Vincristine Therapeutics) Vinorelbine IDN 5109(Bayer) Vindesine A 105972 (Abbott) Dolastatin 10 (NCI) A 204197(Abbott) Rhizoxin (Fujisawa) LU 223651 (BASF) Mivobulin (Warner-Lambert)D 24851 (ASIA Medica) Cemadotin (BASF) ER-86526 (Eisai) RPR 109881A(Aventis) Combretastatin A4 (BMS) TXD 258 (Aventis)Isohomohalichondrin-B Epothilone B (Novartis) (PharmaMar) T 900607(Tularik) ZD 6126 (AstraZeneca) T 138067 (Tularik) PEG-Paclitaxel(Enzon) Cryptophycin 52 (Eli Lilly) AZ10992 (Asahi) Vinflunine (Fabre)!DN-5109 (Indena) Auristatin PE (Teikoku AVLB (Prescient Hormone)NeuroPharma) BMS 247550 (BMS) Azaepothilon B (BMS) BMS 184476 (BMS)BNP-7787 (BioNumerik) BMS 188797 (BMS) CA-4-prodrug (OXiGENE) Taxoprexin(Protarga) Dolastatin-10 (NrH) CA-4 (OXiGENE) AromataseAminoglutethimide Exemestan inhibitors Letrozole Atamestan(BioMedicines) Anastrazole YM-511 (Yamanouchi) Formestan ThymidylatePemetrexed (Eli Lilly) Nolatrexed (Eximias) Synthase ZD-9331 (BTG)CoFactor  ™ (BioKeys) inhibitors DNA Trabectedin (PharmaMar) Mafosfamide(Baxter antagonists Glufosfamide (Baxter International) International)Apaziquone (Spectrum Albumin + 32P Pharmaceuticals) (isotope solutions)O6-benzylguanine Thymectacin (NewBiotics) (Paligent) Edotreotid(Novartis) Farnesyl Arglabin (NuOncology Labs) Tipifarnib (Johnson &transferase Lonafarnib (Schering-Plough) Johnson) inhibitors BAY-43-9006(Bayer) Perillyl alcohol (DOR BioPharma) Pump CBT-1 (CBA Pharma)Zosuquidar inhibitors Tariquidar (Xenova) trihydrochloride (Eli Lilly)MS-209 (Schering AG) Biricodar dicitrate (Vertex) Histone Tacedinaline(Pfizer) Pivaloyloxymethyl butyrate acetyl SAHA (Aton Pharma) (Titan)transferase MS-275 (Schering AG) Depsipeptide (Fujisawa) inhibitorsMetallo- Neovastat (Aeterna CMT-3 (CollaGenex) proteinase Laboratories)BMS-275291 (Celltech) inhibitors Marimastat (British Biotech)Tezacitabine (Aventis) Ribo- Gallium maltolate (Titan) Didox (Moleculesfor nucleoside Triapin (Vion) Health) reductase inhibitors TNF-alphaVirulizin (Lorus Therapeutics) Revimid (Celgene) agonists/ CDC-394(Celgene) antagonists Endothelin-A Atrasentan (Abbot) YM-598(Yamanouchi) receptor ZD-4054 (AstraZeneca) antagonists Retinoic acidFenretinide (Johnson & Alitretinoin (Ligand) receptor Johnson) agonistsLGD-1550 (ligand) Immuno- Interferon Dexosome therapy (Anosys)modulators Oncophage (Antigenics) Pentrix (Australian Cancer GMK(Progenics) Technology) Adenocarcinoma vaccine JSF-154 (Tragen)(Biomira) Cancer vaccine (Intercell) CTP-37 (AVI BioPharma) Norelin(Biostar) JRX-2 (Immuno-Rx) BLP-25 (Biomira) PEP-005 (Peplin Biotech)MGV (Progenics) Synchrovax vaccines (CTL !3-Alethin (Dovetail) Immuno)CLL-Thera (Vasogen) Melanoma vaccines (CTL Immuno) p21-RAS vaccine(GemVax) Hormonal Oestrogens Prednisone and Conjugated oestrogensMethylprednisolone antihormonal Ethynyloestradiol Prednisolone activeChlorotrianisene Aminoglutethimide compounds Idenestrol LeuprolideHydroxyprogesterone Goserelin caproate Leuporelin MedroxyprogesteroneBicalutamide Testosterone Flutamide Testosterone propionate OctreotideFluoxymesterone Nilutamide Methyltestosterone Mitotan DiethylstilbestrolP-04 (Novogen) Megestrol 2-Methoxyoestradiol (En_- Tamoxifen treMed)Toremofin Arzoxifen (Eli Lilly) Dexamethasone Photo- Talaporfin (LightSciences) Pd bacteriopheophorbide dynamic Theralux (Theratechnologies)(Yeda) active Motexafin-Gadolinium Lutetium texaphyrin compounds(Pharmacyclics) (Pharmacyclics) Hypericin Tyrosine Imatinib (Novartis)Kahalide F (PharmaMar) kinase Leflunomide(Sugen/ CEP-701 (Cephalon)inhibitors Pharmacia) CEP-751 (Cephalon) ZDI839 (AstraZeneca) MLN518(Millenium) Erlotinib (Oncogene Science) PKC412 (Novartis) Canertjnib(Pfizer) Phenoxodiol O Squalamine (Genaera) Trastuzumab (Genentech)SU5416 (Pharmacia) C225 (ImClone) SU6668 (Pharmacia) rhu-Mab (Genentech)ZD4190 (AstraZeneca) MDX-H210 (Medarex) ZD6474 (AstraZeneca) 2C4(Genentech) Vatalanib (Novartis) MDX-447 (Medarex) PKI166 (Novartis)ABX-EGF (Abgenix) GW2016 (GlaxoSmithKline) IMC-1C11 (ImClone) EKB-509(Wyeth) EKB-569 (Wyeth) Various other SR-27897 (CCK-A inhibitor,BCX-1777 (PNP inhibitor, active Sanofi-Synthelabo) BioCryst) compoundsTocladesine (cyclic AMP Ranpirnase (ribonuclease agonist, Ribapharm)stimulant, Alfacell) Alvocidib (CDK inhibitor, Galarubicin (RNA Aventis)synthesis inhibitor, CV-247 (COX-2 inhibitor, Dong-A) Ivy Medical)Tirapazamine (reducing P54 (COX-2 inhibitor, agent, SRI International)Phytopharm) N-Acetylcysteine CapCell ™ (CYP450 (reducing agent,stimulant, Bavarian Nordic) Zambon) GCS-IOO (gal3 antagonist,R-Flurbiprofen (NF- GlycoGenesys) kappaB inhibitor, Encore) G17DTimmunogen (gastrin 3CPA (NF-kappaB inhibitor, Aphton) inhibitor, ActiveBiotech) Efaproxiral (oxygenator, Seocalcitol (vitamin D AllosTherapeutics) receptor agonist, Leo) PI-88 (heparanase inhibitor,131-I-TM-601 (DNA Progen) antagonist, TransMolecular) Tesmilifen(histamine Eflornithin (ODC inhibitor, antagonist, YM BioSciences) ILEXOncology) Histamine (histamine H2 Minodronic acid (osteoclast receptoragonist, Maxim) inhibitor, Tiazofurin (IMPDH inhibitor, Yamanouchi)Ribapharm) Indisulam (p53 stimulant, Cilengitide (integrin Eisai)antagonist, Merck KGaA) Aplidin (PPT inhibitor, SR-31747 (IL-1antagonist, PharmaMar) Sanofi-Synthelabo) Rituximab (CD20 antibody,CCI-779 (mTOR kinase Genentech) inhibitor, Wyeth) Gemtuzumab (CD33Exisulind (PDE-V inhibitor, antibody, Wyeth Ayerst) Cell Pathways) PG2(haematopoiesis CP-461 (PDE-V inhibitor, promoter, Pharmagenesis) CellPathways) Immunol ™ (triclosan AG-2037 (GART inhibitor, mouthwash, Endo)Pfizer) Triacetyluridine (uridine WX-UK1 (plasminogen prodrug, Wellstat)activator inhibitor, Wilex) SN-4071 (sarcoma agent, PBI-1402 (PMNstimulant, Signature BioScience) ProMetic LifeSciences) TransMID-107 ™Bortezomib (proteasome (immunotoxin, KS inhibitor, Millennium) Biomedix)SRL-172 (T-cell stimulant, PCK-3145 (apoptosis pro- SR Pharma) moter,Procyon) TLK-286 (glutathione-S Doranidazole (apoptosis transferaseinhibitor, Telik) promoter, Pola) PT-100 (growth factor CHS-828(cytotoxic agent, agonist, Point Therapeutics) Leo) Midostaurin (PKCinhibitor, trans-Retinoic acid Novartis) (differentiator, NIH)Bryostatin-1 (PKC stimulant, MX6 (apoptosis promoter, GPC Biotech)MAXIA) CDA-II (apoptosis promoter, Apomine (apoptosis Everlife)promoter, ILEX Oncology) SDX-101 (apoptosis promoter, Urocidin(apoptosis Salmedix) promoter, Bioniche) Ceflatonin (apoptosis pro-Ro-31-7453 (apoptosis pro- moter, ChemGenex) moter, La Roche)Brostallicin (apoptosis promoter, Pharmacia)

Even without further embodiments, it is assumed that a person skilled inthe art will be able to use the above description in the broadest scope.The preferred embodiments should therefore merely be regarded asdescriptive disclosure which is absolutely not limiting in any way.

The following examples are thus intended to explain the inventionwithout limiting it. Unless indicated otherwise, percent data denotepercent by weight. All temperatures are indicated in degrees Celsius.“Conventional work-up”: water is added if necessary, the pH is adjusted,if necessary, to values between 2 and 10, depending on the constitutionof the end product, the mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate ordichloromethane, the phases are separated, the organic phase is driedover sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated, and the product ispurified by chromatography on silica gel and/or by crystallisation.

Rf values on silica gel; mass spectrometry: EI (electron impactionisation): M⁺, FAB (fast atom bombardment): (M+H)⁺, THF(tetrahydrofuran), NMP (N-methlpyrrolidone), DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide),EA (ethyl acetate), MeOH (methanol), TLC (thin-layer chromatography)

The following substances have been synthesised and characterised.However, the preparation and characterisation of the substances can alsobe carried out by other methods for the person skilled in the art.

EXAMPLE 1 Illustrative Compounds of the Formula I

Table 2

The following compounds are in accordance with the invention

TABLE 2a Com- pound Structure A1

 {(S)-1-[(S)-1-((1S,2S)-4-{(1S,2S)-1-[(4-Amino-2-methylpyrimidin-5-yl-methyl)carbamoyl]-2-methylbutylcarbamoyl}-1-benzyl-2-hydroxybutyl-carbamoyl)-2-methylpropylcarbamoyl]-3-methylbutyl}carbamic acid tert-butyl ester A2

 (S)-2-((2S,3S)-2-{(4S,5S)-5-[(S)-2-((S)-2-tert-Butoxycarbonylamino-4-methylpentanoylamino)-3-methylbutyrylamino]-4-hydroxy-6-phenyl-hexanoylamino}-3-methylpentanoylamino)-3-methylbutyricacid methyl ester A3

  (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-acetylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A4

  (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-acetylamino]-3-methylbutyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethyl-amideA5

 (4S,5S)-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methylbutyryl-amino}-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A6

 (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A7

 (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A8

 (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A9

 (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(2-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A10

 (4S,5S)-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3,4-Dimethylphenoxy)acetylamino]-3-methylbutyryl-amino}-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A11

 (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-[(S)-3-methyl-2-(2-naphthalen-2-ylacetylamino)-butyrylamino]-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A12

 (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-[(S)-3-methyl-2-(2-naphthalen-1-ylacetylamino)-butyrylamino]-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A13

 (4S,5S)-5-((S)-2-Diphenylacetylamino-3-methylbutyrylamino)-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A14

 (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic acid (2,6-dimethylphenyl)amide A15

 (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoic acid benzylamide A16

 (S)-N-[(1S,2S)-1-Benzyl-5-(2,3-dihydroindol-1-yl)-2-hydroxy-5-oxopentyl]-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyramide A17

  (S)-2-[(S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[(S)-4-methyl-2-(3-methylbutyrylamino)pentanoylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoyl-amino)-3-phenylpropionylamino]-3-methylbutyric acid methyl ester A18

  (S)-2-[(S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[(S)-4-methyl-2-(3-methylbutyrylamino)pentanoylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoyl-amino)-3-phenylpropionylamino]-3-methylbutyric acid methyl ester A19

 (4S,5S)-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3-Ethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methylbutyrylamino}-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic acid phenethylamide A20

 (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-[(S)-3-methyl-2-(4-phenylbutyrylamino)butyryl-amino]-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide A21

 (S)-2-[(2S,3S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[(S)-4-methyl-2-(3-methylbutyrylamino)pentanoylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoyl-amino)-3-methylpentanoylamino]-3-methylbutyric acid A22

  (S)-2-[(2S,3S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoro-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoylamino)-3-methylpentanoylamino]-3-methylbutyric acid

TABLE 2b Ret. Cath D Renin time M + Compound MW total IC₅₀ [nM] IC₅₀[nM] [min] Method H A1 768.9946 4.30E−07 3.20E−07 2.17 polar 769.5 A2761.9953 4.10E−08 1.10E−06 2.72 polar 762.5 A3 627.7 >30 μM 2.47 polar628.3 A4 657.7258 4.00E−06 >30 μM 2.50 polar 658.3 A5 603.7555 >30 μM2.15 polar 604.3 A6 635.8005 1.20E−05 >30 μM 2.53 polar 636.3 A7573.7297 >30 μM 2.25 polar 574.3 A8 573.7297 >30 μM 2.26 polar 574.3 A9573.7297 >30 μM 2.30 polar 574.3 A10 587.7565 >30 μM 2.50 polar 588.3A11 593.7637 2.43 polar 594.3 A12 593.7637 >30 μM 2.43 polar 594.3 A13619.8015 4.30E−06 >30 μM 2.53 polar 620.3 A14 635.8005 >30 μM 2.54 polar636.3 A15 621.7737 >30 μM 2.49 polar 622.3 A16 633.7847 >30 μM 2.63polar 634.3 A17 780.0135 2.55E−07 >30 μM 2.45 polar 780.5 A18647.8115 >30 μM 2.58 polar 648.3 A19 587.7565 >30 μM 2.36 polar 588.3A20 571.7575 >30 μM 2.41 polar 572.3 A21 731.9695 2.40E−08 1.20E−05 2.28polar 732.4 A22 736.8239 3.50E−07 >30 μM 2.35 polar 737.3and physiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, solvates, prodrugsand stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios.

Stable: Recovery 75% after 4 h.

For the avoidance of any doubt, in all cases where the chemical name ofa compound according to the invention and the depiction of the chemicalstructure of a compound according to the invention mistakenly do notagree, the compound according to the invention is defined unambiguouslyby the depiction of the chemical structure.

The retention times were determined:

Polar method: Chromolith Speed Rod RP 18e 50-4.6 mm LCMS; polar.m, 2.4ml/min, 220 nm, buffer A 0.05% of HCOOH/H2O, buffer B 0.04% ofHCOOH/ACN, 0.0-3.0 min 5%-100% of buffer B; 3.0-3.5 min 100% of buffer B

TABLE 3 Com- pound NMR data peak lists A1 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm= 8.39 (t, J = 6.1, 1H), 7.84 (s, 1H), 7.78 (d, J = 8.7, 1H), 7.68 (d, J= 8.9, 1H), 7.44 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.24-7.17 (m, 4H), 7.15-7.11 (m, 1H),7.02 (d, J = 8.4, 1H), 6.65 (s, 2H), 4.85 (d, J = 5.5, 1H), 4.20- 4.14(m, 1H), 4.12-4.07 (m, 1H), 4.06-3.98 (m, 2H), 3.97-3.88 (m, 2H),3.43-3.35 (m, 1H), 2.83 (dd, J = 13.8, 6.2, 1H), 2.61 (dd, J = 13.6,8.1, 1H), 2.27 (s, 3H), 2.22- 2.10 (m, 2H), 1.95-1.86 (m, 1H), 1.75-1.64(m, 1H), 1.62-1.47 (m, 3H), 1.46-1.27 (m, 14H), 1.11-0.99 (m, 1H),0.89-0.81 (m, 6H), 0.80-0.71 (m, 10H). A2 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm= 8.06 (d, J = 7.8, 1H), 7.75-7.63 (m, 2H), 7.44 (d, J = 9.0, 1H),7.26-7.16 (m, 4H), 7.16-7.11 (m, 1H), 7.02 (d, J = 8.5, 1H), 4.85 (d, J= 5.4, 1H), 4.29-4.22 (m, 1H), 4.20-4.14 (m, 1H), 4.14- 4.08 (m, 1H),3.98-3.84 (m, 2H), 3.60 (s, 3H), 3.43-3.33 (m, 1H), 2.83 (dd, J = 13.7,6.2, 1H), 2.61 (dd, J = 13.7, 8.1, 1H), 2.21-2.09 (m, 2H), 2.07-1.96 (m,1H), 1.95-1.85 (m, 1H), 1.73-1.62 (m, 1H), 1.60-1.46 (m, 3H), 1.45- 1.28(m, 12H), 1.10-0.98 (m, 1H), 0.90-0.82 (m, 12H), 0.81-0.74 (m, 12H). A31H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 8.07 (d, J = 9.1, 1H), 7.82 (t, J = 5.6,1H), 7.67 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.45-7.39 (m, 1H), 7.31-7.25 (m, 4H),7.23-7.16 (m, 8H), 7.15-7.11 (m, 1H), 4.89 (d, J = 5.6, 1H), 4.16 (dd, J= 9.0, 6.7, 1H), 3.98- 3.88 (m, 1H), 3.66-3.46 (m, 2H), 3.42-3.36 (m,1H), 3.24-3.17 (m, 2H), 2.82 (dd, J = 13.6, 5.7, 1H), 2.69-2.60 (m, 3H),2.19-2.07 (m, 1H), 2.07-1.97 (m, 1H), 1.97- 1.87 (m, 1H), 1.57-1.48 (m,2H), 0.79-0.72 (m, 6H). A4 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 7.81-7.75 (m,2H), 7.60 (d, J = 8.9, 1H), 7.30-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.23-7.17 (m, 8H),7.17-7.16 (m, 1H), 7.16-7.12 (m, 1H), 7.05-7.00 (m, 1H), 4.87 (d, J =5.6, 1H), 4.17 (dd, J = 9.0, 6.6, 1H), 3.97-3.90 (m, 1H), 3.74 (s, 3H),3.57-3.42 (m, 2H), 3.42- 3.36 (m, 1H), 3.24-3.17 (m, 2H), 2.83 (dd, J =13.6, 5.9, 1H), 2.68-2.62 (m, 3H), 2.17-2.07 (m, 1H), 2.07-1.98 (m, 1H),1.93 (h, J = 6.8, 1H), 1.56-1.49 (m, 2H), 0.80- 0.75 (m, 6H). A5 1H NMR(400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 7.82 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.78 (t, J = 5.6, 1H),7.58 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.30-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.22-7.17 (m, 6H), 7.17-7.16(m, 1H), 7.16-7.11 (m, 1H), 6.90 (d, J = 2.0, 1H), 6.85 (d, J = 8.2,1H), 6.76 (dd, J = 8.2, 2.0, 1H), 4.86 (d, J = 5.6, 1H), 4.14 (dd, J =9.0, 6.7, 1H), 3.97-3.88 (m, 1H), 3.70 (d, J = 2.6, 6H), 3.48-3.32 (m,3H), 3.24-3.17 (m, 2H), 2.81 (dd, J = 13.7, 5.9, 1H), 2.68-2.60 (m, 3H),2.17-2.07 (m, 1H), 2.06-1.98 (m, 1H), 1.93 (h, J = 6.7, 1H), 1.56-1.48(m, 2H), 0.78-0.73 (m, 6H). A6 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 7.92 (d,J = 9.0, 1H), 7.78 (t, J = 5.6, 1H), 7.59 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.39-7.33(m, 2H), 7.31-7.25 (m, 3H), 7.21-7.17 (m, 6H), 7.17-7.15 (m, 1H),7.15-7.09 (m, 2H), 7.05-7.01 (m, 1H), 7.00-6.94 (m, 3H), 6.87-6.83 (m,1H), 4.85 (d, J = 5.6, 1H), 4.14 (dd, J = 9.0, 6.7, 1H), 3.96-3.88 (m,1H), 3.57-3.35 (m, 3H), 3.24-3.17 (m, 2H), 2.85-2.78 (m, 1H), 2.68-2.59(m, 3H), 2.17-1.97 (m, 2H), 1.90 (h, J = 6.7, 1H), 1.57-1.46 (m, 2H),0.76-0.71 (m, 6H). A7 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 7.83 (d, J = 9.0,1H), 7.78 (t, J = 5.6, 1H), 7.56 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.31-7.24 (m, 2H),7.23-7.12 (m, 10H), 6.86-6.81 (m, 2H), 4.87 (d, J = 5.5, 1H), 4.13 (dd,J = 9.0, 6.8, 1H), 3.97-3.88 (m, 1H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 3.48-3.33 (m, 3H),3.24-3.17 (m, 2H), 2.85-2.78 (m, 1H), 2.68-2.60 (m, 3H), 2.17-1.97 (m,2H), 1.91 (h, J = 6.8, 1H), 1.57-1.46 (m, 2H), 0.75 (d, J = 6.7, 6H). A81H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 7.90 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.78 (t, J = 5.6,1H), 7.58 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.31-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.22-7.17 (m, 7H),7.17-7.16 (m, 1H), 7.16-7.10 (m, 1H), 6.87-6.80 (m, 2H), 6.79-6.75 (m,1H), 4.86 (d, J = 5.6, 1H), 4.14 (dd, J = 9.0, 6.8, 1H), 3.97-3.88 (m,1H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 3.53-3.38 (m, 3H), 3.24-3.17 (m, 2H), 2.85- 2.78 (m,1H), 2.69-2.58 (m, 3H), 2.17-1.98 (m, 2H), 1.93 (h, J = 6.7, 1H),1.58-1.46 (m, 2H), 0.76 (d, J = 6.7, 6H). A9 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6)ppm = 7.78 (t, J = 5.6, 1H), 7.55 (dd, J = 20.5, 8.9, 2H), 7.31-7.12 (m,12H), 6.97- 6.92 (m, 1H), 6.87 (td, J = 7.4, 1.1, 1H), 4.89 (d, J = 5.5,1H), 4.16 (dd, J = 8.9, 6.4, 1H), 3.98-3.89 (m, 1H), 3.72 (s, 3H),3.53-3.36 (m, 3H), 3.24-3.17 (m, 2H), 2.83 (dd, J = 13.6, 5.9, 1H),2.68-2.60 (m, 3H), 2.20-1.97 (m, 2H), 1.92 (h, J = 6.7, 1H), 1.57-1.47(m, 2H), 0.76 (d, J = 6.7, 3H), 0.74 (d, J = 6.7, 3H). A10 1H NMR (400MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 7.85-7.72 (m, 2H), 7.61 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.33-7.24(m, 2H), 7.24-7.15 (m, 7H), 7.14-7.08 (m, 1H), 7.02 (d, J = 8.4, 1H),6.75 (d, J = 2.7, 1H), 6.65 (dd, J = 8.2, 2.8, 1H), 4.90 (d, J = 5.4,1H), 4.54-4.39 (m, 2H), 4.24 (dd, J = 9.0, 6.4, 1H), 4.03-3.86 (m, 1H),3.47-3.36 (m, 1H), 3.25-3.15 (m, 2H), 2.86- 2.78 (m, 1H), 2.70-2.61 (m,3H), 2.20-2.09 (m, 7H), 2.08-1.91 (m, 2H), 1.60-1.46 (m, 2H), 0.77 (d, J= 6.7, 3H), 0.73 (d, J = 6.8, 3H). A11 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm =8.01 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.88-7.85 (m, 1H), 7.85-7.81 (m, 2H), 7.81-7.75(m, 2H), 7.60 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.51-7.42 (m, 3H), 7.30-7.24 (m, 2H),7.22-7.15 (m, 7H), 7.13-7.08 (m, 1H), 4.88 (d, J = 5.5, 1H), 4.17 (dd, J= 9.0, 6.8, 1H), 3.98-3.90 (m, 1H), 3.76-3.57 (m, 2H), 3.43-3.36 (m,1H), 3.24-3.17 (m, 2H), 2.82 (dd, J = 13.6, 5.7, 1H), 2.65 (t, J = 7.3,3H), 2.17- 1.99 (m, 2H), 1.94 (h, J = 6.8, 1H), 1.57-1.49 (m, 2H), 0.80-0.74 (m, 6H). A12 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 8.12-8.07 (m, 1H),8.03 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.92-7.88 (m, 1H), 7.83-7.75 (m, 2H), 7.60 (d, J= 8.9, 1H), 7.49 (dd, J = 6.4, 3.3, 2H), 7.45- 7.41 (m, 2H), 7.30-7.25(m, 2H), 7.23-7.19 (m, 5H), 7.19-7.15 (m, 3H), 4.88 (d, J = 5.6, 1H),4.17 (dd, J = 9.0, 6.6, 1H), 4.06 (d, J = 15.0, 1H), 3.99-3.92 (m, 1H),3.90 (d, J = 15.0, 1H), 3.43-3.36 (m, 1H), 3.24-3.17 (m, 2H), 2.82 (dd,J = 13.7, 6.0, 1H), 2.68-2.61 (m, 3H), 2.19-2.00 (m, 2H), 1.99-1.90 (m,1H), 1.57-1.49 (m, 2H), 0.76 (d, J = 6.7, 6H). A13 1H NMR (400 MHz,DMSO-d6) ppm = 8.10 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.78 (t, J = 5.6, 1H), 7.65 (d, J= 8.8, 1H), 7.34-7.04 (m, 20H), 5.17 (s, 1H), 4.89 (d, J = 5.5, 1H),4.22 (dd, J = 9.0, 6.8, 1H), 3.95-3.86 (m, 1H), 3.40-3.36 (m, 1H), 3.25-3.16 (m, 2H), 2.81 (dd, J = 13.7, 5.8, 1H), 2.70-2.55 (m, 3H), 2.17-2.07(m, 1H), 2.06-1.97 (m, 1H), 1.96-1.84 (m, 1H), 1.58-1.45 (m, 2H),0.77-0.67 (m, 6H). A14 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 9.13 (s, 1H),7.98 (d, J = 9.1, 1H), 7.70 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.40-7.33 (m, 2H), 7.29(t, J = 7.9, 1H), 7.23-7.17 (m, 4H), 7.17-7.09 (m, 2H), 7.06-6.92 (m,7H), 6.89-6.83 (m, 1H), 4.91 (d, J = 5.8, 1H), 4.20-4.13 (m, 1H),3.99-3.92 (m, 1H), 3.54 (d, J = 13.7, 1H), 3.50-3.44 (m, 1H), 3.40 (d, J= 13.7, 1H), 2.84 (dd, J = 13.6, 6.1, 1H), 2.63 (dd, J = 13.5, 8.3, 1H),2.44- 2.34 (m, 1H), 2.32-2.23 (m, 1H), 2.05 (s, 6H), 1.96- 1.86 (m, 1H),1.68-1.60 (m, 2H), 0.79-0.70 (m, 6H). A15 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm= 8.26 (t, J = 6.0, 1H), 7.96 (d, J = 9.1, 1H), 7.66 (d, J = 9.0, 1H),7.40-7.33 (m, 2H), 7.29 (t, J = 7.6, 3H), 7.25-7.16 (m, 7H), 7.16-7.09(m, 2H), 7.03 (d, J = 7.7, 1H), 7.00-6.92 (m, 3H), 6.88- 6.82 (m, 1H),4.89 (d, J = 5.6, 1H), 4.21 (d, J = 6.0, 2H), 4.16- 4.11 (m, 1H),3.98-3.88 (m, 1H), 3.54 (d, J = 13.7, 1H), 3.44-3.36 (m, 2H), 2.86-2.75(m, 1H), 2.67-2.56 (m, 1H), 2.27-2.17 (m, 1H), 2.16-2.06 (m, 1H),1.95-1.83 (m, J = 7.1, 1H), 1.64-1.49 (m, 2H), 0.76-0.69 (m, 6H). A16 1HNMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 8.04 (d, J = 8.0, 1H), 7.96 (d, J = 9.1,1H), 7.70 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.40-7.32 (m, 2H), 7.28 (t, J = 7.9, 1H),7.24-7.16 (m, 5H), 7.15-7.08 (m, 3H), 7.06-7.00 (m, 1H), 7.00-6.92 (m,4H), 6.88- 6.80 (m, 1H), 4.92 (d, J = 5.6, 1H), 4.20-4.11 (m, 1H), 4.03(t, J = 8.5, 2H), 4.00-3.91 (m, 1H), 3.57-3.47 (m, 2H), 3.39 (d, J =13.7, 1H), 3.11 (t, J = 8.5, 2H), 2.84 (dd, J = 13.7, 5.4, 1H), 2.64(dd, J = 13.7, 8.9, 1H), 2.50-2.38 (m, 1H), 1.96-1.84 (m, J = 6.8, 1H),1.70-1.56 (m, 2H), 1.17 (s, 1H), 0.76-0.69 (m, 6H). A17 1H NMR (400 MHz,DMSO-d6) ppm = 8.13 (d, J = 8.2, 1H), 7.97-7.88 (m, 2H), 7.57-7.48 (m,2H), 7.29-7.08 (m, 10H), 4.82 (d, J = 5.5, 1H), 4.63-4.54 (m, 1H),4.35-4.26 (m, 1H), 4.20-4.05 (m, 2H), 3.94-3.84 (m, 1H), 3.62 (s, 3H),3.35-3.33 (m, 1H), 2.99-2.91 (m, 1H), 2.84-2.69 (m, 2H), 2.64-2.56 (m,1H), 2.19-2.09 (m, 1H), 2.08- 1.92 (m, 5H), 1.91-1.82 (m, 1H), 1.61-1.50(m, 1H), 1.48-1.35 (m, 4H), 0.91-0.79 (m, 18H), 0.76-0.69 (m, 6H). A181H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 8.12-8.01 (m, 1H), 7.93 (d, J = 9.0,1H), 7.65-7.57 (m, 1H), 7.41-7.33 (m, 2H), 7.32-7.26 (m, 1H), 7.25-7.07(m, 10H), 7.04 (d, J = 7.5, 1H), 7.00-6.93 (m, 3H), 6.88-6.82 (m, 1H),5.23 (q, J = 8.0, 1H), 4.90-4.82 (m, 1H), 4.20-4.10 (m, 1H), 3.99-3.88(m, 1H), 3.54 (d, J = 13.8, 1H), 3.48-3.37 (m, 2H), 2.95-2.70 (m, 3H),2.69-2.58 (m, 1H), 2.38-2.27 (m, 1H), 2.25-2.04 (m, 2H), 1.99-1.85 (m,1H), 1.78- 1.65 (m, 1H), 1.63-1.53 (m, 2H), 0.79-0.70 (m, 6H). A19 1HNMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 7.94 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.83 (t, J = 5.6,1H), 7.64 (d, J = 8.9, 1H), 7.28 (t, J = 7.5, 2H), 7.23-7.12 (m, 9H),6.87-6.70 (m, 3H), 4.89 (d, J = 5.6, 1H), 4.19-4.11 (m, 1H), 4.02-3.86(m, 3H), 3.50 (d, J = 13.7, 1H), 3.42-3.36 (m, 2H), 3.24-3.15 (m, 2H),2.87- 2.76 (m, 1H), 2.68-2.56 (m, 3H), 2.17-2.08 (m, 1H), 2.06-1.98 (m,1H), 1.96-1.86 (m, 1H), 1.61-1.43 (m, 2H), 1.29 (t, J = 6.9, 3H), 0.76(d, J = 6.8, 6H). A20 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 7.82 (t, J = 5.6,1H), 7.74 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.53 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.31-7.24 (m, 4H),7.22-7.13 (m, 10H), 7.12-7.05 (m, 1H), 4.92 (d, J = 5.5, 1H), 4.16-4.08(m, 1H), 3.97-3.87 (m, 1H), 3.42- 3.37 (m, 1H), 3.25-3.14 (m, 2H),2.84-2.77 (m, 1H), 2.69-2.58 (m, 3H), 2.57-2.52 (m, 2H), 2.21-2.08 (m,3H), 2.06-1.97 (m, 1H), 1.93-1.86 (m, 1H), 1.82-1.72 (m, 2H), 1.57-1.46(m, 2H), 0.82-0.72 (m, 6H). A21 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm = 12.53(s, 1H), 8.00 (d, J = 8.3, 1H), 7.92-7.54 (m, 4H), 7.29-7.07 (m, 5H),5.14-4.76 (m, 1H), 4.39-4.17 (m, 2H), 4.16-3.99 (m, 2H), 3.97-3.84 (m,1H), 3.43-3.39 (m, 1H), 2.87-2.77 (m, 1H), 2.68-2.58 (m, 1H), 2.26-2.08(m, 2H), 2.08- 1.81 (m, 3H), 1.77-1.64 (m, 1H), 1.61-1.32 (m, 8H),1.09-0.98 (m, 1H), 0.91-0.67 (m, 30H). A22 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) ppm= 12.47 (s, 1H), 8.04 (d, J = 9.0, 1H), 7.85 (d, J = 8.1, 1H), 7.75-7.62(m, 2H), 7.42 (t, J = 8.1, 1H), 7.32-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.24-7.09 (m, 6H),4.85 (s, 1H), 4.31-4.21 (m, 1H), 4.20-4.05 (m, 2H), 3.98-3.87 (m, 1H),3.62 (d, J = 13.9, 1H), 3.49 (d, J = 13.9, 1H), 3.40 (s, 1H), 2.89-2.75(m, 1H), 2.67-2.57 (m, 1H), 2.26-2.11 (m, 2H), 2.08-1.97 (m, 1H),1.96-1.86 (m, 1H), 1.76-1.63 (m, 1H), 1.58-1.31 (m, 3H), 1.12-0.98 (m,1H), 0.92-0.84 (m, 6H), 0.83-0.71 (m, 12H).

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of the Compounds of the Formula I According to theInvention

The compounds according to the invention can be prepared, for example,by the following synthesis sequences by methods known to the personskilled in the art. The examples indicated describe the synthesis, butdo not restrict this to the examples.

Synthesis Sequence:

Starting from the diprotected building block A-2, which is obtainablefrom A1 by hydrolysis, the new peptide bond to corresponding amines,amino acid derivatives, dipeptides or tripeptides (typically protectedon the C terminal) is built up with the aid of an amide coupling methodknown to the person skilled in the art, such as, for example, a DAPECIcoupling.

In the second step, the BOC protecting group and the acetal are cleavedoff under suitable conditions (for example by HCl/dioxane or TFA/DCM),and the building block obtained is coupled to a corresponding acid,amino acid derivatives, dipeptides or tripeptides (typically in eachcase protected on the N terminal). Particular preference is given inthis step to coupling reagents which are suitable for suppressingracemisation, such as, for example, HATU or similar reagents. In furthersteps, the removal of further protecting groups may follow, for examplethe hydrogenolysis of Z protecting groups or of benzyl esters to givethe free acid in the presence of Pd/C.

The acids or amino acid derivatives required are either commerciallyavailable, accessible by methods of peptide synthesis known to theperson skilled in the art or accessible, for example, by the followingroute:

where in this case L¹=L^(1′)-CO—.

Alternatively, the compounds of the formula I claimed can also beprepared by the following sequence:

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of(4S,5S)-4-benzyl-5-(2-carboxyethyl)-2,2-dimethyloxazolidine-3-carboxylicacid tert-butyl ester

(S)-4-Benzyl-5-(2-cyanoethyl)-2,2-dimethyloxazolidine-3-carboxylic acidtert-butyl ester (30.0 g; 87 mmol; 100.00 mol %) was dissolved in 300 mlof methanol, and potassium hydroxide (300 ml, 40% solution in water) wasadded. The batch was refluxed until the nitrile had hydrolysedcompletely. The mixture was subsequently rendered acidic with coolingusing citric acid solution (1.5 equiv. based on KOH). The water phasewas extracted three times with dichloromethane, the organic phases werecombined, washed with NaCl solution until neutral, dried, and thesolvent was removed, giving 25.3 g of(4S,5S)-4-benzyl-5-(2-carboxyethyl)-2,2-dimethyloxazolidine-3-carboxylicacid tert-butyl ester as oil (yield 73.5%, content ˜92%).Chromatographic purification on silica gel (eluent: DCM/methanol)starting from 5.0 g of crude product gave 4.6 g of an oil. MS-FAB(M+H⁺-BOC)=264.1 R_(f) (polar method): 2.50 min.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of(4S,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methylbutyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid N-phenethylamide (A4) Step 1:(4S,5S)-4-Benzyl-2,2-dimethyl-5-(2-phenethylcarbamoylethyl)-oxazolidine-3-carboxylicacid tert-butyl ester

2.50 g of(4S,5S)-4-benzyl-5-(2-carboxyethyl)-2,2-dimethyloxazolidine-3-carboxylicacid tert-butyl ester, 0.975 ml of phenethylamine, 465 mg of1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate, 1.50 ml of 4-methylmorpholine and 1.45 gof N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (DAPECI)were dissolved in about 40 ml of DMF in a flask with ice-cooling andstirred overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into saturated sodiumhydrogencarbonate solution and stirred for 15 min. The precipitateformed was filtered off with suction, dissolved in DCM and washed anumber of times firstly with hydrogencarbonate solution, then withdilute formic acid solution and water. The solvent was removed, and theoily residue was lyophilised, giving 3.25 g of(4S,5S)-4-benzyl-2,2-dimethyl-5-(2-phenethylcarbamoylethyl)oxazolidine-3-carboxylicacid tert-butyl ester as oil (yield 97.1%, content 94%). MS-FAB(M+H⁺-BOC)=367.2 R_(f) (polar method): 2.76 min (MS track).

Step 2 (4S,5S)-5-Amino-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic acidN-(phenethyl)-amide (hydrochloride)

3.15 g of(4S,5S)-4-benzyl-2,2-dimethyl-5-(2-phenethylcarbamoylethyl)-oxazolidine-3-carboxylicacid tert-butyl ester were dissolved in 45 ml of methanol and 110 ml ofHCl (4M) in dioxane in a flask and stirred at RT for a few hours.Removal of the solvent and lyophilisation gave 2.32 g of(4S,5S)-5-amino-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic acid N-(phenethyl)amide ashydrochloride. (Yield 96%, content >95%). MS-FAB (M+H⁺)=327.2 R_(f)(polar method): 1.46 min (MS track).

The following unknown compounds, for example, can be prepared by thismethod:

Step 3[(S)-1-((1S,2S)-1-Benzyl-2-hydroxy-4-phenethylcarbamoylbutylcarbamoyl)-2-methylpropyl]carbamicacid tert-butyl ester

1.80 g of (4S,5S)-5-amino-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoic acidN-(phenethyl)-amide hydrochloride, 1.13 g of(S)-2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-methylbutyric acid, 325 mg of1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate, 1.05 ml of 4-methylmorpholine and 1.01 gof N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (DAPECI)were dissolved in about 20 ml of DMF in a flask with ice-cooling andstirred overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into saturated sodiumhydrogencarbonate solution and stirred for 15 min. The precipitateformed was filtered off with suction and rinsed with copious diluteformic acid and water. Lyophilisation gave 2.12 g of[(S)-1-((1S,2S)-1-benzyl-2-hydroxy-4-phenethylcarbamoylbutylcarbamoyl)-2-methylpropyl]-carbamicacid tert-butyl ester as white solid (yield 85.4%, content 100%). MS-FAB(M+H⁺)=526.3 R_(f) (polar method): 2.36 min (MS track).

Step 4(4S,5S)-5-((S)-2-Amino-3-methylbutyrylamino)-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoicacid N-phenethylamide hydrochloride

2.12 g of[(S)-1-((1S,2S)-1-benzyl-2-hydroxy-4-phenethylcarbamoylbutylcarbamoyl)-2-methylpropyl]carbamicacid tert-butyl ester were dissolved in 75 ml of HCl solution in dioxane(4 M) and 30 ml of methanol in a flask and stirred at RT for 1 h. ExcessHCl was removed in the house vacuum, the solvent was removed in vacuo,and the residue was lyophilised overnight, giving 2.23 g of(4S,5S)-5-((S)-2-amino-3-methylbutyrylamino)-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoicacid N-phenethylamide hydrochloride as white solid. (Yield 100%, content86.6%). MS-FAB (M+H⁺)=426.2 R_(f) (polar method): 1.52 min (MS track).

Step 5(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)acetylamino]-3-methylbutyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid N-phenethylamide

150 mg of(4S,5S)-5-((S)-2-amino-3-methylbutyrylamino)-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoicacid N-phenethylamide hydrochloride (content 86.6%), 79 mg of(2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)acetic acid, 97.6 μl ofethyldiisopropylamine 118 mg of HATU were dissolved in about 5 ml of DMFin a flask with ice-cooling and stirred overnight. The reaction mixturewas poured into saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution and stirredfor 15 min. The precipitate formed was filtered off with suction andrinsed with copious dilute formic acid and water. Lyophilisation gave135 mg of(4S,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methylbutyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid N-phenethylamide as white solid (yield 73%, content 100%). MS-FAB(M+H⁺)=658.3 R_(f) (polar method): 2.50 min (MS track).

Compounds A13, A14, and A15, for example, can be prepared analogously tothis sequence (without restricting the method to these compounds).

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of(4S,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid N-phenethylamide (A3) Step 1:(S)-3-Methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyric acidbenzyl ester

1.50 g of (S)-2-amino-3-methylbutyric acid benzyl ester hydrochloride,1.36 g of (3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)acetic acid, 416 mg of1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate, 1.35 ml of 4-methylmorpholine and 1.18 gof N-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride(DAPECI) were dissolved in about 10 ml of DMF in a flask withice-cooling and stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was poured intosaturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution and stirred for 15 min. Thesuspension formed was extracted a number of times with DCM, the organicphases were combined and rinsed with dilute formic acid and water.Drying using sodium sulfate, removal of the solvent and lyophilisationof the residue gave 2.39 g of(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyric acidbenzyl ester. (Yield 92.5%, content 97.5%). MS-FAB (M+H⁺)=410.1 R_(f)(polar method): 2.69 min (MS track).

Step 2: (S)-3-Methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyricacid

2.39 g of(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyric acidbenzyl ester were hydrogenated in a suitable vessel in the presence of1.00 g of Pd/C (5% of Pd, moist) in 30 ml of THF at RT at atmosphericpressure until the starting material had reacted completely (overnight).The reaction mixture was diluted with THF and filtered off with suctionin order to remove the catalyst. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo,and the residue was lyophilised, giving 1.91 g of(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)acetylamino]butyric acid aswhite solid (yield 97.2%, content 92%). MS-FAB (M+H⁺)=320.1 R_(f) (polarmethod): 2.11 min (MS track).

The synthesis of the following products can be carried out analogouslyto this preparation:

Step 3(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-acetylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid N-phenethylamide

100 mg of(4S,5S)-5-((S)-2-amino-3-methylbutyrylamino)-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoicacid N-phenethylamide hydrochloride (content 95.5%), 100 mg of(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyric acid,90.9 μl of ethyldiisopropylamine, 109.5 mg of HATU were dissolved inabout 5 ml of DMF in a flask with ice-cooling and stirred overnight. Thereaction mixture was poured into saturated sodium hydrogencarbonatesolution and stirred for 15 min. The precipitate formed was filtered offwith suction and rinsed with copious dilute formic acid and water.Lyophilisation gave 101.6 mg of(4S,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoro-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid N-phenethylamide as white solid (yield 60%, content 97%). MS-FAB(M+H⁺)=628.3 R_(f) (polar method): 2.47 min (MS track).

The products A1, A2, A5-A12, A16-A20, but also the following compounds,can be prepared by this process by suitable combination of the buildingblocks from Example 2, step 2 or similar compounds and the buildingblocks from Example 3, step 2 or similar compounds:

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of(S)-2-[(2S,3S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[(S)-4-methyl-2-(3-methylbutyrylamino)pentanoylamino]-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoylamino)-3-methylpentanoylamino]-3-methylbutyricacid (A21)

106 mg of(S)-2-[(2S,3S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[(S)-4-methyl-2-(3-methylbutyrylamino)pentanoylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoylamino)-3-methylpentanoylamino]-3-methylbutyricacid benzyl ester were hydrogenated in a suitable vessel in the presenceof 100 mg of Pd/C (5% of Pd, moist) in 40 ml of THF at RT at atmosphericpressure until the starting material had reacted completely (overnight).The reaction mixture was diluted with water and THF and filtered offwith suction in order to remove the catalyst. The filtrate wasevaporated in vacuo, the residue was dissolved in DMF and precipitatedusing water. Drying gave 2.45 g of(S)-2-[(2S,3S)-2-((4S,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[(S)-4-methyl-2-(3-methyl-butyrylamino)pentanoylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoylamino)-3-methylpentanoylamino]-3-methylbutyricacid as white powder (yield 70%, content 98%). MS-FAB (M+H⁺)=732.4 R_(f)(polar method): 2.28 min.

Compound A22 can be prepared analogously.

Abbreviations:

-   DAPECI=N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride-   DCM=dichloromethane-   DMA=dimethylacetamide-   DMF=dimethylformamide-   EA=ethyl acetate-   h=hours-   HATU=(2-(7-aza-1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium-   hexafluorophosphate)-   MTBE=methyl tert-butyl ether-   PE=petroleum ether-   RT=room temperature-   SPhos=2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl-   TFA=trifluoroacetic acid

EXAMPLE 7 In-Vitro Fluorescence Assay for Identification of Cathepsin DInhibitors

In order to identify modulators of cathepsin D activity, a continuousenzymatic test was carried out with a synthetic peptide which carries afluorescent group (MCA=(7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl)acetyl) which is quenchedby energy transfer from a Dpn (2,4 dinitrophenyl) group on the samemolecule, in Greiner 384-well nb microtitre plates. Cleavage of thepeptidic substrate by cathepsin D causes an increase in the fluorescenceintensity. In order to determine the efficacy of substances, thetime-dependent increase in the fluorescence intensity in the presence ofthe substance was compared with the time-dependent increase influorescence in the absence of substances. The reference substance usedwas pepstatin A (Sigma-Aldrich). The substrate used wasMCA-GKPILFFRLK(Dnp)d-R—NH₂ (Enzo Life Sciences, Lor-rach). The enzymeemployed was cathepsin D isolated from the human liver (Sigma-Aldrich)in a final concentration of 1.4 nM. The test was carried out in 100 mMsodium acetate buffer, 1.25% (v/v) of DMSO, 0.25% (w/v) of Chaps, pH5.5. 2 μl of each substance solution with serially diluted substanceconcentration were added to in each case 4 μl of cathepsin D solutionand incubated at room temperature for 10 min. The reaction was startedby addition of 2 μl of substrate solution (final concentration 5 μM).After carrying out a starting-point fluorescence measurement (excitationwavelength 340 nm/emission wavelength 450 nm) using an Envisionmultilabel reader (Perkin Elmer), the reaction was incubated at roomtemperature for 60 min. The amount of peptide fragment cleaved offduring the reaction time was subsequently measured by determination ofthe increase in the fluorescence intensity at 450 nm (excitationwavelength 340 nm).

The IC₅₀ values of the compounds according to the invention can beobtained from Table 2 from Example 1.

EXAMPLE 8 Cartilage Explant Assay

In order to investigate the effect of potential cathepsin D inhibitorson cartilage degradation, a pH-induced model based on bovine explants isused. The pH of the medium in which the explants are cultivated ismatched here to the pathophysiological pH of an arthrotic knee. This pHis pH 5.5. In this ex vivo model, potential cathepsin D inhibitors aresubsequently investigated for their action with respect to stopping ofthe cartilage degradation process. If the cartilage is destroyed,glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are released into the cell culturesupernatant. The amount of GAGs liberated can be determinedquantitatively with the aid of DMMB (dimethylmethylene bluehydrochloride). If sulfated GAGs are detected using dimethylmethyleneblue hydrochloride, the decrease in the absorption at 633 nm isutilised. Since work can also be carried out at very low GAGconcentrations, a dye/GAG complex does not precipitate out even afterextended incubation of DMMB with GAG, which sometimes happens after onlya short time in other measurement methods. In order to determine theconcentration, a calibration line is also recorded using chondroitinsulfate. The GAG values can be used to calculate an IC₅₀ value, i.e. aconcentration at which a substance exhibits 50% of its action.

Solutions:

Incubation Medium, pH 7.4:

DMEM without FBS, addition of 1% of Pen/Strep and 30 μg/ml of ascorbicacid, the medium is not stored.

Incubation Medium, pH 5.5:

DMEM without FBS, the pH is adjusted by addition of MES and monitoredusing a pH meter, addition of 1% of Pen/Strep and 30 μg/ml of ascorbicacid.

Solutions for the GAG Measurement:

DMMB Colouring Solution (V=500 ml):

Dissolve 8 mg of DMMB (dimethylmethylene blue) in 2.5 ml of ethanol+1 gof sodium formate+1 ml of formic acid, make up to 500 ml withbidistilled water.

Incubation medium: FBS (medium without FBS)

Chondroitin Sulfate Solutions (Standard Curve)

Preparation of standard solutions with the following concentrations: 50μg/ml; 25 μg/ml; 12.5 μg/ml; 6.25 μg/ml; 3.125 μg/ml; 1.56 μg/ml; 0.78μg/ml and a blank control of the medium. The preparation of the standardsolution is carried out in the medium with which the experiment was alsocarried out.

1.) Procedure: pH-Induced Cartilage Degradation of Bovine Explants

The bovine explants are firstly prepared. The induction of the cartilagedegradation is carried out in 96-multiwell plates. One explant iscultivated per well. In each case, 200 μl of DMEM (incubation medium pH5.5) without FBS+30 μg/ml of ascorbic acid are added. Thus negativecontrol, explants (n=4) are incubated at pH 7.4 (without FBS). Thiscontrol is not included in the calculation of the data, but insteadensures that the pH change has the desired effect on the liberation ofGAG. At this point, the substances to be tested are added. Nopre-incubation of the explants is carried out. The explants arecultivated with the corresponding substances for 3 days in the incubatorat 37° C. and 7.5% CO₂.

2.) Incubation Procedure

In order to investigate the effect of cathepsin D inhibitors on theliberation of GAG (glycosaminoglycan), the substances are employed inthe desired concentration and cultivated for 3 days. The compounds to betested are tested in a first experiment in a concentration of 1 μM and1% of DMSO. Substances which have an effect of >50% on the liberation ofGAG (this corresponds to <50% of the control in the Assay Explorer) aretested in the next experiment at 100 nM and 1% of DMSO. Substances whichhave an effect of >50% on the liberation of GAG under these conditions(this corresponds to <50% of the control in the Assay Explorer) aretested in a concentration/effect relationship. The compounds here areinvestigated in the following concentrations: 30 μM, 10 μM, 3 μM, 1 μM,0.3 μM, 0.1 μM, 0.03 μM, 0.01 μM.

The positive control used is pepstatin A with a concentration of 0.01μM. The assay window is defined by the control (pH 5.5), defined as 0%effect, and the control pH 5.5+0.01 μM pepstatin A, defined as 100%effect. After incubation for 3 days, the cell culture supernatants arecollected and stored at −20° C. or measured directly. The amount ofliberated GAG is measured photometrically.

The effect (1 value) of the respective substance in % based on thepositive control (pH 5.5+0.01 μM pepstatin A) and the negative control(pH 5.5) is reported for concentrations of 1 μM and 100 nM. The valuerepresents the average of 4 replicants. In the determination of aconcentration/effect relationship, an IC₅₀ value is reported to thedatabase (Assay Explorer).

4.) Measurement

The cell culture supernatants (200 μl) are either measured directly orstored at −20° C. In order to ensure an accurate determination of theconcentration (μg/ml of GAG in the supernatant) of GAG, the measurementvalues must be located in the linear region of the standard curve. Inorder to ensure this, various dilutions are routinely introduced (1/5,1/10, 1/20, 1/40). The dilutions are prepared with medium and introducedautomatically (Hamilton) into a 384-well plate (15 μl). 60 μl of DMMBsolution are likewise added automatically (or using a multichannelpipette). A rapid colour reaction occurs, which is subsequently measuredat 633 nm using a plate reader (for example Envision).

Depending on the amount of sample present, at least one doubledetermination is carried out.

The data are provided by the MTP reader as csv or xls files and storedas raw data based on this format (xls) or used for the calculation ofthe percentage effect of the particular compound.

5.) Quality Controls

As control for the induction of the pH-induced cartilage degradation, 4explants are incubated at pH 7.4. This corresponds to the physiologicalpH of the cartilage, and no effect on the liberation of GAG is thusexpected here. These GAG values (μg/ml of supernatant) are thus alwayssignificantly lower than the GAG values for incucation at pH 5.5.

A further control, which both serves for checking of the experiment, butis also important for the definition of the assay window, is thepepstatin control (pH 5.5+0.01 μM pepstatin A). This substancenon-specifically blocks the activity of most proteases and thusdetermines the maximum possible effect of a compound.

6.) Results

All compounds measured exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻¹⁰ M in theGAG assay.

-   (1) Klompmakers, A. & Hendriks, T. (1986) Anal. Biochem. 153, 80-84,    Spectrophotometric Determination of Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans.-   (2) Groves, P. J. et al. (1997) Anal. Biochem. 245, 247-248    Polyvinyl alcohol-stabilised binding of sulfated GAGs to    dimethylmethylene blue.

EXAMPLE 9 Investigation of the Anti-Hyperalgesic Effect in Animals

In order to induce an inflammation reaction, a carrageenan solution(CAR, 1%, 50 μl) was injected intra-articularly on one side into a ratknee joint. The uninjected side was used for control purposes. Sixanimals per group were used. The threshold was determined by means of amicrometer screw (medial-lateral on the knee joint), and the thermalhyperalgesia was determined by means of a directed infrared light sourceby the Hargreaves method (Hargreaves et al., 1988) on the sole of thefoot. Since the site of inflammation (knee joint) is different from thesite of measurement (paw sole), use is made here of the term secondarythermal hyperalgesia, the mechanism of which is of importance for thediscovery of effective analgesics.

Experimental description of thermal hyperalgesia (Hargreaves test): theexperimental animal is placed in a plastic chamber on a quartz sheet.Before testing, the experimental animal is firstly given about 5-15minutes time to familiarise itself with the environment. As soon as theexperimental animal no longer moves so frequently after thefamiliarisation phase (end of the exploration phase), the infrared lightsource, whose focus is in the plane of the glass bottom, is positioneddirectly beneath the rear paw to be stimulated. An experiment run isthen started by pressing the button: infrared light results in anincrease in the skin temperature of the rear paw. The experiment isterminated either by the experimental animal raising the rear paw (as anexpression of the pain threshold being reached) or by automaticswitching-off of the infrared light source when a pre-specified maximumtemperature has been reached. Light reflected by the paw is recorded aslong as the experimental animal sits still. Withdrawal of the pawinterrupts this reflection, after which the infrared light source isswitched off and the time from switching on to switching off isrecorded. The instrument is calibrated in such a way that the infraredlight source increases the skin temperature to about 45 degrees Celsiusin 10 s (Hargreaves et al. 1988). An instrument produced by Ugo Basilefor this purpose is used for the testing.

CAR was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. Administration of the specificcathepsin D inhibitors according to the invention was carried outintra-articularly 30 minutes before the CAR. Triamcinolone (TAC) in anamount of 10 μg/joint was used as positive control, and the solvent(vehicle) was used as negative control. The hyperalgesia is quoted asthe difference in the withdrawal times between the inflamed andnon-inflamed paw.

Result: TAC was capable of reducing the CAR-induced swelling, but thespecific cathepsin D inhibitors according to the invention were not. Incontrast, the specific cathepsin D inhibitors according to the inventionwere able to reduce the extent of thermal hyperalgesia as a function ofthe dose. Assessment: it has been shown that the compounds of thepresent invention exert an anti-hyperalgesic action. This can bepostulated since the compounds exhibited no influence on inflammatoryswelling and thus on the hyperalgesia trigger. It can thus be assumedthat the compounds develop a pain-reducing action in humans.

EXAMPLE 10 Stability of the Compounds According to the Invention inBovine Synovial Fluid

1.) Extraction of Bovine Synovial Fluid

In the preparation of bovine explants (for the diffusion chamber orother assays), either cow hoof (metacarpal joints) or cow knee is used.The synovial fluid can be obtained from both joints. To this end, thesynovial fluid is carefully removed from the open joint using a 10 mlsyringe and a cannula and transferred into prepared 2 ml Eppendorfvessels. The Eppendorf vessels are labelled depending on the animal (cowpassport is available). It must be ensured here that blood does notenter the joint gap during preparation of the joints. If this is thecase, the synovial fluid will become a reddish colour and mustconsequently be discarded. The synovial fluid is basically highlyviscous and clear to yellowish in colour. The removal together with amacroscopic analysis of the synovial fluid is documented.

2.) Batch for Stability Testing of Substances in SF

In order to check the stability of individual compounds, a pool of fourdifferent bovine synovial fluids is mixed. To this end, about 1 ml perSF is used. The mixture is prepared directly in a 5 ml glass vessel. TheSFs are mixed thoroughly, but carefully. No air bubbles or foam shouldform. To this end, a vortex unit is used at the lowest speed. Thecompounds to be tested are tested in an initial concentration (unlessrequired otherwise) of 1 μM. After addition of the substance, the batchis again mixed thoroughly and carefully. For visual monitoring, all SFbatches are photographed, and the pictures are filed in the eLabBio filefor the corresponding experiment. FIG. 1 shows photodocumentation ofthis type by way of example. The batches are incubated in the incubatorfor 48 h at 37° C. and 7.5% CO₂.

3.) Sampling

The sampling is carried out after the pre-agreed times (unless requiredotherwise, see below). 200 μl of the SF are removed from the mixture pertime and transferred directly into a 0.5 ml “low-binding” Eppendorfvessel. “Low-binding” Eppendorf vessels are used in order to minimiseinteraction of the substances with the plastic of the vessels. 200 μl ofacetonitrile have already been introduced into the Eppendorf vessel, sothat a 1+1 mixture of the SF forms thereafter. This simplifies thesubsequent analysis, but precipitation of protein may occur immediatelyafter addition of the SF. This should be noted on the protocol. The 0 hsample is taken immediately after addition of the substance. Thiscorresponds to the 100% value in the stability calculation. Ideally, theconcentration employed should be retrieved here. The samples can befrozen at −20° C.

-   -   0 h    -   6 h    -   24 h    -   48 h

The negative control used is SF without substance. The positive controlused is SF with 1 μM of substance. This corresponds to the 0 h value andthus 100% stability.

The samples are stored in “low-binding” Eppendorf vessels at −20° C. Thesamples are subsequently measured quantitatively.

4.) Data Processing

The concentrations measured (ng/ml) are plotted against the time in agraph

(Graph Pad Prism®). The percentage stability of the substance isdetermined here. The 100% value used is the initial value in the SF attime 0 h. The data are stored in eLabBio under the respective experimentnumber and reported in the MSR database (as percent stability after thecorresponding incubation times).

5.) Results

All compounds measured remained stable.

EXAMPLE 11 In-Vitro Fluorescence Assay for Identification ofRenin-Inhibitory Activity

In order to identify modulators of renin activity, a continuousenzymatic test was carried out with a synthetic peptide which carries afluorescent group Edans (=(5-(aminoethyl)aminonaphthalenesulfonate)which is quenched by energy transfer from a Dabcyl(4′-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4-carboxylate) group on the same molecule,in Greiner 384-well microtitre plates. Cleavage of the peptidicsubstrate by renin causes an increase in the fluorescence intensity. Inorder to determine the efficacy of substances, the time-dependentincrease in the fluorescence intensity in the presence of the substancewas compared with the time-dependent increase in fluorescence in theabsence of substances. The reference substance used was renin inhibitor2 (Z-Arg-Arg-Pro-Phe-His-Sta-Ile-His N-Boc-Lys methyl ester Z)(Sigma-Aldrich). The substrate used was renin FRET substrate I(DABCYL-g-Abu-Ile-His-Pro-Phe-His-Leu-Val-Ile-His-Thr EDANS) (Anaspec,Fremont Calif.). The enzyme employed was recombinant human renin(Proteos, Kalamazoo, Mich.) in a final concentration of 10 nM. The testwas carried out in 50 mM Mops buffer, 1.5% (v/v) of DMSO, 0.1% (w/v) ofIgepal®, pH 7.2, 0.5% (w/v) of BSA. 2 μl of each substance solution withserially diluted substance concentration were added to in each case 4 μlof renin solution and incubated at room temperature for 15 min. Thereaction was started by addition of 4 μl of substrate solution (finalconcentration 5 μM). After carrying out a starting-point fluorescencemeasurement (excitation wavelength 340 nm/emission wavelength 495 nm)using an Envision multilabel reader (Perkin Elmer), the reaction wasincubated at 37° C. for 60 min. The amount of peptide fragment cleavedoff during the reaction time was subsequently measured by determinationof the increase in the fluorescence intensity at 495 nm (excitationwavelength 340 nm).

Result: Apart from compounds A1 and A2, all compounds measured have anIC₅₀ of the renin selectivity of >30 μM.

EXAMPLE 12 Injection Vials

A solution of 100 g of a compound of the formula I and 5 g of disodiumhydrogenphosphate in 3 l of bidistilled water is adjusted to pH 6.5using 2 N hydrochloric acid, filtered under sterile conditions,transferred into injection vials, lyophilised under sterile conditionsand sealed under sterile conditions. Each injection vial contains 5 mgof a compound of the formula I.

EXAMPLE 13 Solution

A solution is prepared from 1 g of a compound of the formula I, 9.38 gof NaH₂PO₄2H₂O, 28.48 g of Na₂HPO₄.12H₂O and 0.1 g of benzalkoniumchloride in 940 ml of bidistilled water. The pH is adjusted to 6.8, andthe solution is made up to 1 l and sterilised by irradiation. Thissolution can be used in the form of eye drops.

EXAMPLE 14 Ointment

500 mg of a compound of the formula I are mixed with 99.5 g of Vaselineunder aseptic conditions.

EXAMPLE 15 Ampoules

A solution of 1 kg of a compound of the formula I in 60 l of bidistilledwater is filtered under sterile conditions, transferred into ampoules,lyophilised under sterile conditions and sealed under sterileconditions. Each ampoule contains 10 mg of a compound of the formula I.′

The invention claimed is:
 1. Compounds of the formula I,

in which I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵ each, independently of one another, denoteCR′, R¹ denotes ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, butyl,isobutyl, sec-butyl, cyclobutyl, tert-butyl, phenyl, benzyl, 2-oxetanyl,3-oxetanyl, tetrahydrofuran-3-yl, tetrahydrofuran-2-yl, cyclopentyl,pentyl, methylsulfanylmethyl, ethylsulfanylmethyl, 2-methylsulfanylethylor 1-methylsulfanylethyl, A¹ denotes 0 to 3 identical or different aminoacid radicals (—NHCHRCO—) connected to one another in a peptide-likemanner or —CO—, —OCO—, —NRCO—, —SO₂— or —NRSO₂—, L¹ denotes a singlebond or a linear or branched alkyl linker having 1-10 C atoms, in which1-5 CH₂ groups may be replaced, independently of one another, by 0, S,—CXX′—, SO, SO₂, NR, C═O, —OCO—, —NRCONR′—, —NRCO—, —NRSO₂R′—, —COO—,—CONR—, —C≡C— groups and/or by —CH═CH— groups and/or, in addition, 1-20H atoms may be replaced by F and/or Cl, L² denotes a single bond, —NR—,—NRCR′R— or —NRCR′RCR′R—, X, X′, Y, each, independently of one another,denote T, R, R′, independently of one another, denote H, T, OT or alinear or branched alkyl having 1-10 C atoms, in which one, two or threeCH₂ groups may be replaced, independently of one another, by O, S, SO,SO₂, NH, NCH₃, —OCO—, —NHCONH—, —NHCO—, —NRSO₂R′—, —COO—, —CONH—,—NCH₃CO—, —CONCH₃—, —C≡C— groups and/or by —CH═CH— groups and/or, inaddition, 1-20 H atoms may be replaced by F and/or Cl, and which isunsubstituted, mono-, di- or trisubstituted by ═S, ═NR, ═O, Hal, OH,NH₂, SO₂CH₃, SO₂NH₂, CN, CONH₂, NHCOCH₃, and/or NHCONH₂, or a cyclicalkyl having 3-7 C atoms, in which one, two or three CH₂ groups may bereplaced, independently of one another, by O, S, SO, SO₂, NH, NCH₃,—OCO—, —NHCONH—, —NHCO—, —NRSO₂R′—, —COO—, —CONH—, —NCH₃CO—, —CONCH₃—and/or by —CH═CH— groups and/or, in addition, 1-11 H atoms may bereplaced by F and/or Cl, and which is unsubstituted or mono-, di- ortrisubstituted by ═S, ═NR, ═O, OH, NH₂, SO₂CH₃, SO₂NH₂, CN, CONH₂,NHCOCH₃, and/or NHCONH₂, T denotes a phenyl or naphthyl, which isunsubstituted or mono-, di- tri- or tetrasubstituted by R, or a mono- orbicyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic heterocycle having 1 to 4 N,O and/or S atoms, which may be mono-, di- or trisubstituted by R, ═S,═NR′ and/or ═O, m denotes 0-4, n denotes 0-2 and Hal denotes F, Cl, Bror I, and physiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, prodrugs andstereoisomers thereof, and mixtures thereof in all ratios.
 2. Compoundsaccording to claim 1 in which R¹ denotes isopropyl, 2-butyl or isobutyland I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, A¹, L¹, L², X, X′, Y, T, R, R′, m, n and Halhave the meanings indicated in claim 1, and physiologically acceptablesalts, derivatives, prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof, and mixturesthereof in all ratios.
 3. Compounds according to claim 1 in which R¹denotes isopropyl and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, A¹, L¹, L², X, X′, Y, T, R,R′, m, n and Hal have the meanings indicated in claim 1, andphysiologically acceptable salts, derivatives, prodrugs andstereoisomers thereof, and mixtures thereof in all ratios.
 4. Compoundsaccording to claim 1 in which R¹ denotes isopropyl, having an Sconfiguration of the chiral centre to which the isopropyl group isbonded, and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, A¹, L¹, L², X, X′, Y, T, R, R′, m, n andHal have the meanings indicated in claim 1, and physiologicallyacceptable salts, derivatives, prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof, andmixtures thereof in all ratios.
 5. Compounds according to claim 1 inwhich A¹ denotes 0 to 1 amino acid radicals, selected from alanine,glycine, cyclopropylglycine, cyclobutylglycine, cyclopentylglycine,cyclohexylglycine, 3-oxetanylglycine, 3-oxetanylglycine,tetrahydrofuran-3-ylglycine, tetrahydrofuran-2-ylglycine,ethylsulfanylmethylglycine, 2-methylsulfanylethylglycine,1-methylsulfanylethylglycine, valine, norvaline, aminobutyric acid,leucine, isoleucine, proline, tert-leucine, norleucine, methionine,phenylalanine, naphthylalanine, O-methylserine and O-ethylserine, whichare connected to one another in a peptide-like manner, or —OCO—, —NRCO—,—SO₂—, or —NRSO₂—, and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, R′, L¹, L², X, X′, Y, T, R,R′, m, n and Hal have the meanings given in claim 1, and physiologicallyacceptable salts, derivatives, prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof, andmixtures thereof in all ratios.
 6. Compounds according to claim 1 inwhich A¹ denotes 0 to 1 amino acid radicals, selected from valine,norvaline, leucine, isoleucine, norleucine, phenylalanine andnaphthylalanine, which are connected to one another in a peptide-likemanner, and I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, R′, L¹, L², X, X′, Y, T, R, R′, m, n andHal have the meanings indicated in claim 1, and physiologicallyacceptable salts, derivatives, prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof, andmixtures thereof in all ratios.
 7. Compound according to claim 1selected from the group consisting of: c)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-acetylamino]butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; d)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-acetylamino]-3-methylbutyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; e)(4S,5S)-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; f)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; g)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; h)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; i)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-2-[2-(2-methoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; j)(4S,5S)-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3,4-Dimethylphenoxy)acetylamino]-3-methylbutyrylamino}-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; k)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-(2-naphthalen-2-ylacetylamino)-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; l)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-(2-naphthalen-1-ylacetylamino)-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; m)(4S,5S)-5-((S)-2-Diphenylacetylamino-3-methylbutyrylamino)-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; n)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid (2,6-dimethylphenyl)amide; o)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-{(S)-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-6-phenylhexanoicacid benzylamide; p)(S)—N-[(1S,2S)-1-Benzyl-5-(2,3-dihydroindol-1-yl)-2-hydroxy-5-oxopentyl]-3-methyl-2-[2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetylamino]butyramide;s)(4S,5S)-5-{(S)-2-[2-(3-Ethoxyphenyl)acetylamino]-3-methylbutyrylamino}-4-hydroxy-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; and t)(4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-[(S)-3-methyl-2-(4-phenylbutyrylamino)butyrylamino]-6-phenylhexanoicacid phenethylamide; and physiologically acceptable salts, derivatives,prodrugs and stereoisomers thereof, and mixtures thereof in all ratios.8. Process for the preparation of a compound of the formula I of claim1, comprising preparing a compound of the formula III from a compound ofthe formula II by hydrolysis, reacting the compound of the formula Illwith a compound of the formula IV to give a compound of the formula V,converting the compound of the formula V into a compound of the formulaVI, reacting the compound of the formula VI with a compound of theformula VII to give a compound of the formula VIII and converting thecompound of the formula VIII into a compound of the formula I by removalof protecting groups, by the following scheme, wherein I¹, I², I³, I⁴,I⁵, R¹, A¹, L¹, L², X, X′, Y, T, R, R′, m, n and Hal in the compounds ofthe formula I, II; III; IV, V, VI; VII and VIII have the meaningsindicated in claim 1 and A² is a single bond:


9. Process for the preparation of a compound of the formula I claim 1,comprising reacting a compound of the formula IX with a compound of theformula X to give a compound of the formula XI, converting the compoundof the formula XI into a compound of the formula XII by removal ofprotecting groups and reacting the compound of the formula XII with acompound of the formula XIII to give a compound of the formula I, by thefollowing scheme, wherein I¹, I², I³, I⁴, I⁵, R¹, A¹, L¹, L², X, X′, Y,T, R, R′, m, n and Hal in the compounds of the formula I, IX, X, XI, XIIand XIII have the meanings indicated in claim 1 and A² is a single bond:


10. Process for the preparation of a compound of the formula I claim 1,comprising: a) converting the base of a compound of the formula I intoone of its salts by treatment with an acid, or b) converting an acid ofa compound of the formula I into one of its salts by treatment with abase.
 11. Pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compoundaccording to claim 1 and/or a physiologically acceptable salt,derivative, prodrug or stereoisomer thereof, and mixtures thereof in allratios.
 12. Pharmaceutical composition according to claim 11 comprisingone or more excipients and/or adjuvants.
 13. Pharmaceutical compositioncomprising at least one compound according to claim 1 and/or aphysiologically acceptable salt, derivative, prodrug or stereoisomerthereof, and mixtures thereof in all ratios, and at least one furthermedicament active compound.
 14. Process for the preparation of apharmaceutical composition, comprising bringing a compound according toclaim 1 and/or a physiologically acceptable salt, derivative, prodrug orstereoisomer thereof, and mixtures thereof in all ratios, into asuitable dosage form together with a solid, liquid or semi-liquidexcipient or adjuvant.
 15. A kit consisting of separate packs of a) aneffective amount of a compound according to claim 1 and/or aphysiologically acceptable salt, derivative, prodrug or stereoisomerthereof, and mixtures thereof in all ratios, and b) an effective amountof a further medicament active compound.
 16. A diagnostic method whichcomprises contacting a compound according to claim 1 or aphysiologically acceptable salt, derivative, prodrug or stereoisomerthereof, and mixtures thereof in all ratios, with cathepsin D to inhibitcathepsin D.